klyvbar

Klyvbar is a Norwegian adjective meaning capable of undergoing nuclear fission, i.e., able to be split by neutron-induced fission. It comes from klyv ('to cleave, split') and the suffix -bar ('capable of'). In English, the closest equivalent is fissile. In scientific and regulatory contexts, klyvbar describes materials that can sustain a chain reaction when irradiated by neutrons, typically in a nuclear reactor or an explosive device. The distinction is significant: fissile materials can sustain a chain reaction with slow neutrons, whereas other materials may be merely fissionable under different neutron energies.

Common examples of klyvbare materials include certain isotopes such as uranium-235, uranium-233, and plutonium-239. The label is used in academic literature, safety analyses, and regulatory documents in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to classify substances for handling, licensing, and transport controls.

Because klyvbar materials are tightly regulated, discussions around them emphasize safety, security, and non-proliferation. International regimes, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency frameworks, govern the production, storage, and transfer of klyvbare substances, with strict controls on quantity, enrichment level, and shielding requirements.

In everyday use, the term appears primarily in technical and legal contexts rather than general discourse. As a concept, it forms part of the broader classification of nuclear materials alongside terms like fissile, fertile, and radiological hazards.