“Alongside this, UKAEA will also be placing entirely new materials into the ORNL High Flux Isotope Reactor, including new high-temperature steels developed by both UKAEA and wider UK industry, permeation barrier coatings and welded materials.”ĭr Yutai Kato, ORNL’s Interim Director of Materials Science and Technology Division and Manager of Fusion Materials Program, said the materials researched under the partnership “will primarily focus on the ‘breeder blanket’ – a component to provide the fusion fuel, tritium, to make power plants self-sufficient”. The research will attempt to understand how certain materials respond to irradiation over extended periods, in order to increase the longevity of the materials used.ĭr Amanda Quadling, UKAEA’s Director of Materials Research, said the partnership “will allow UKAEA access to ORNL’s archive of existing irradiated materials, which include binary iron-chromium alloys, advanced steels, silicon carbide composites and copper alloys. This is because high-energy neutrons and extreme temperatures can weaken or change the desirable mechanical, thermal, optical or electronic properties of materials, which can reduce the lifetime of fusion machines.Įni in deal with US firm to develop fusion pilot project at MITĬommonwealth Fusion Systems opens new development campus

The research has been initiated because one of the major challenges in harnessing fusion energy is developing materials to cope in extreme environments.

Display fusion