Despite heavy investments in preventative maintenance, operators are forced to choose between costly, over-conservative shutdowns and risking undetected material weaknesses, as they lack tools to precisely track real-time, early-stage degradation under extreme conditions.

This creates constant operational tension between safety margins and production goals, affecting profitability and public perception.

The root challenge lies in the technological limitations: existing sensors, imaging, and predictive models cannot reliably track or interpret microscopic changes in reactor materials as they happen, especially under high radiation and temperature stress.

Additionally, integrating new diagnostic tools without disrupting operations or regulatory compliance is complex and capital intensive.