Hi, the cartoon graphic didn't come through, but basically, a "normal" reactor uses the rare isotope of uranium, uranium-235, as the fissionable fuel, while a "breeder" reactor can convert the common but non-fissionable isotope of uranium, uranium-238, into fissionable plutonium-239. Thus the fear that any nation that acquires a breeder reactor can make fissionable material for atomic weaponry in abundance.
There are lots of sites about breeder reactors; I included several below.
Steve
"It was realised that the existence of many tonnes of chemically separated plutonium might lead to the possibility of the theft, or "diversion", of enough fissionable material to make a nuclear bomb. The presence of "weapons grade" fissionable material in the hands of a small "rogue" country, or a terrorist group, is unacceptable and would be a nightmare. This led to a study sponsored by the Ford Foundation (Ref 6) and the subsequent decision of President Carter, on 7 April 1997, to abandon the plans in the USA to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and to slow the development of the breeder reactor. Other countries did not follow the US lead and continued to reprocess nuclear fuel. While there is argument and disagreement about the dangers of reprocessing, I argue here that reprocessing is not necessary for the future of nuclear power over the next half century. Fossil fuel supplies are more plentiful and cheaper than anticipated, supplies of uranium ore are adequate, and the cost of the experimental breeder reactors has been greater than expected. This conclusion seems to differ from that of many others (Ref 7). Reprocessing may be desirable �?but not for fuel resource reasons."
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