Thorium alloys have many applications; thorium-tungsten, and thorium-molybdenum alloys are used for thermoelectronic emitter filaments: Thorium alloys and methods of preparing the same (1927).
Thorium additions confer improved high temperature properties to magnesium: A method of preparing a magnesium thorium alloy (1961). Copper-nickel-thorium alloys are resistant to mechanical stress and chemical attack.
There has been growing interest over many years in thorium as a fuel in nuclear reactors:
- Epithermal thorium power-breeder reactor (1960)
- Non Proliferating Thorium Nuclear Fuel Inert Metal Matrix Alloys For Fast Spectrum And Thermal Spectrum Thorium Converter Reactors (2006)
- Thorium-Based Nuclear Reactor And Method (2010)
- Nuclear Fuel Bundle Containing Thorium And Nuclear Reactor Comprising Same (2012)
References:
All patent information has been obtained from Espacenet (European Patent Office).