Secondary Neutron Source Materials Market

Secondary Neutron Source Materials Market Outlook (2025 to 2035)

The global secondary neutron source materials market was valued at USD 261.8 million in 2024 and has been forecasted to expand at a noteworthy CAGR of 7.3% to end up at USD 568.9 million by 2035.

The secondary neutron source materials market encompasses various types of materials and technologies for the production of neutrons for applications in medical, industrial, and research sectors.

These sources encompass radioisotope sources, accelerator-based sources, and fusion-based sources crucial to promoting nuclear science and its applications with better imaging techniques, improved methodologies for treating cancer, and precise medical diagnostics.

Industries also require reliable and efficient sources of neutrons to meet the demand for non-destructive testing, medical diagnostics, and research. Innovations in neutron generation technology and increasingly high investments into research and development activities further enhance market growth, making secondary neutron source materials imperative in several applications.

For example, on January 2025, NSD Fusion reported that company entered into a strategic partnership with the European Neutron Source Consortium, enhancing the company's development of advanced neutron generation technologies.

Under this partnership, both parties hope to combine expertise in neutron science and engineering to accelerate next-generation neutron source development for research and industrial applications. This partnership should significantly impact the neutron source market, as the companies will develop joint research projects and share related technologies.

Report Attributes	Details
Global Secondary Neutron Source Materials Market Size (2024A)	USD 261.8 Million
Estimated Market Value (2025E)	USD 281.2 Million
Expected Market Value (2035F)	USD 568.9 Million
Global Market Growth Rate (2025 to 2035)	7.3% CAGR
North America Market Share (2025)	36.9%
U.S. Market Growth Rate (2025 to 2035)	7.3% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	Adelphi Technology; AMETEK ORTEC; General Atomics; Gradel (NSD Fusion); Phoenix; Sodern; Thermo Fisher Scientific; VNIIA; Other key players.

Historic Analysis (2020 to 2024) and Future (2025 to 2035) Pathway Analysis for the Global Secondary Neutron Source Materials Market

The market for global secondary neutron source materials grew at a growth rate of 7.3% from 2020 to 2024, and by the end of 2024, it was valued at USD 261.8 million. The stringent regulations related to secondary neutron source materials is a major factor for the steady increase of the market during the forecasted period.

Historical Report Attributes	Details
Market Size (2020A)	USD 196.7 million
Market Size (2024A)	USD 261.8 million
Historical CAGR (2020 to 2024)	6.9%
Forecasted CAGR (2025 to 2035)	7.3%

• Short Term (2025 to 2028): Advancements in medical imaging techniques will be a significant short-term growth driver for the market. The healthcare sector is embracing neutron-based imaging technologies, particularly neutron radiography, to supplement their diagnostic capabilities. Companies have been investing in developing portable neutron generators that can be used in clinical settings, further improving patient outcomes and expanding the market.
• Medium Term (2028 to 2032): Increased emphasis on non-destructive testing in the industrial sector will boost market growth over the medium term. In aerospace, automotive, and construction industries, neutron-based NDT is used extensively for material and component integrity assurance, where compact efficient neutron sources are going to meet such demands along with enhancing safety and reliability in critical applications.
• Long Term (2032 to 2035): Advances in fusion-based neutron generation will be a driving force for market growth in the long term. As research deepens into this field of energy, the area of application of fusion-based neutron sources within energy production and various other applications related to materials will open up. Consequently, the adoption of sustainable methods of neutron production will position this market for significant expansion, investment and innovation.

On the back of the aforementioned facts, the global secondary neutron source materials market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2035, according to the Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider.

Market Dynamics

What are the Factors Propelling Global Sales of Secondary Neutron Source Materials?

“Growing Demand in Healthcare”

The rapidly expanding demand in the healthcare sector for advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques is the most prominent driving force behind market growth.

The efficacy of Neutron-based imaging and treatments such as BNCT, which specifically target cancer cells with minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissues, increases its prospects, and the increased adoption of these technologies by healthcare institutes will further increase the demand for secondary neutron source materials. This trend is further supported by continuous research and clinical trials on new neutron applications for improving patient outcomes.

“Increasing Applications in Industrial Sector”

Increasing dependency of the industrial sector on non-destructive testing and material analysis is fueling the demand for secondary neutron source materials. Neutron-based techniques are applied in aerospace, automotive, and construction industries to ensure component integrity and safety.

The growing need for quality assurance due to increasing regulatory requirements is expected to enhance the adoption of neutron sources for NDT applications, thus propelling market growth in the next few years.

What are the Challenges Encountered by Manufacturers of Secondary neutron source materials?

“Regulatory Compliance related to manufactruring can be significant stringent to the market growth”

Regulatory compliance is a key challenge that manufacturers in the secondary neutron source materials market face. The production and use of neutron sources are heavily regulated, primarily due to safety and environmental reasons.

The complexity of these regulations varies across regions, increasing the cost and time taken for product development and market entry. Compliance with all safety standards, license requirements, and waste management guidelines can be extremely resource-intensive; hence, compliance can actually create barriers to innovation and delay product introduction.

Country-wise Insights

Why is Adoption of Secondary neutron source materials High in the United States?

“Robust healthcare infrastructure, advanced research facilities, and significant investments in nuclear science is expected to drive the market in United States (U.S.)”

The market in the United States is reached at USD 75.0 million in 2025 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.8% through 2035.

The United States is an early adopter of secondary neutron source materials primarily because of the strong healthcare structure, sophisticated research facilities, and significant investments into nuclear science. A large number of medical institutions and research laboratories rely on neutron sources for diagnostic imaging and the treatment of cancer.

Moreover, there are various neutron technology research programs and funding within the U.S. government to encourage innovation. This also increases the accessibility and availability of these materials by having key players in the neutron source market, hence their increased adoption across sectors.

Why is China a Lucrative Market for Secondary neutron source materials Manufacturers?

“China's significant investment in nuclear technology and its expanding nuclear power sector make China a lucrative market for secondary neutron source materials.”

The market in the China is estimated to reach USD 67.8 million in 2035 at a CAGR of 7.9%. This market is projected to generate a USD 36.2 million absolute opportunities from 2025 to 2035.

China has an immense investment in nuclear technology, and its increasing nuclear power industry requires a good amount of secondary neutron source material. The nation's emphasis on research and development, along with the increasing number of industrial applications, makes it a prime destination for manufacturers operating in this segment. Also, China's strategic moves toward strengthening its technological base and limiting its dependence on imports also drives the market.

Category-wise Insights

Which Type of Neutron Source Material is Widely Preferred for the Production of Secondary Neutron Source Materials?

“Accelerator-based sources are widely preferred for the production of secondary neutron source materials due to their ability to generate high neutron yields with precise control over the neutron energy spectrum.”

Demand for accelerator-based sources are projected to increase at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2035. Among the various types of neutron source materials, accelerator-based sources are increasingly preferred for the production of secondary neutron sources. This is because their yields are capable of very high neutron energies with a controlled neutron energy spectrum.

Accelerator-based sources, such as deuterium-tritium generators, have the advantage of being non-radioactive; therefore, D-T based generators are gaining popularity in applications such as medical, industrial, and general uses.

These generators can be taken on board because they come in a compact package, which means they can be moved around and used in different places. Accelerator-based neutron sources are likely to be the leading choice in the market because of the growing demand for reliable and efficient neutron sources for non-destructive testing and medical imaging.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in the secondary neutron source materials market are Adelphi Technology, AMETEK ORTEC, General Atomics, Gradel (NSD Fusion), Phoenix Sodern, Thermo Fisher Scientific, VNIIA.

Companies devote a significant portion of their revenue to R&D to resolve problems and offer creative solutions to draw in new customers and stay competitive. Companies are developing customized offerings for issues that meet industry-specific needs to compete with other players.

• On January 2024, Thermo Fisher Scientific finalized its acquisition of Olink, an acquisition expected to expand its bioprocessing offerings. This acquisition forms part of the strategies adopted by Thermo Fisher in its efforts to diversify and improve its offerings in a variety of scientific applications, such as neutron source materials. Technologies acquired from Olink are likely to give Thermo Fisher cutting-edge tools and solutions that could help advance research and development in related fields.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers of secondary neutron source materials positioned across regions, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Secondary Neutron Source Materials Industry Research

• By Type of Neutron Source Material :

  • Radioisotope Sources
  • Accelerator-Based Sources
  • Fusion-Based Sources
  • Fission-Based Sources

• By Application :

  • Medical Applications
  • Industrial Applications
  • Research Applications
  • Homeland Security

• By End-User :

  • Healthcare Institutions
  • Industrial Sector
  • Government and Defense

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa