Nuclear reactors can achieve immortality by growing a microscopic layer of protective oxide

The Gori-2 reactor in South Korea utilizes a specialized alloy passivation process to form a protective chromium oxide layer only 1 to 5 microns thick. By precisely controlling water chemistry at 570 degrees Fahrenheit, engineers create a molecular shield that limits stress corrosion cracking to a negligible rate of 10^-7 millimeters per year. This chemical 'seasoning' is essential for extending the life of 1970s-era pressurized water reactors beyond their original 40-year design limits.