Materials Science and Technology Division, Fusion Materials Research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Progress During Fiscal Year 2013, October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013.

摘要

The realization of fusion energy is a formidable challenge with significant achievements resulting from close integration of the plasma physics and applied technology disciplines. Presently, the most significant technological challenge for the near-term experiments such as ITER, and next generation of fusion power systems, is the inability of current materials and systems to withstand the harsh fusion nuclear environment. The overarching goal of the ORNL fusion materials program is to provide the applied materials science support and understanding to underpin the ongoing DOE Office of Science fusion energy program while developing materials for fusion power systems. In doing so the program must be integrated both with the larger U.S. and international fusion materials communities, and with the international fusion design and technology communities. The overall ORNL program on materials development continues to actively develop low activation structural materials such as the Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic Steels, the higher strength/higher creep resistance Nano Composted Ferritic steels, and Silicon Carbide Composites. A significant change over the past two years is the increased emphasis on high heat flux testing and the development of refractory metals. This includes the use of an ORNL Plasma Arc Lamp facility adapted for the thermal testing of irradiated materials, the development and evaluation of new tungsten materials, and the study and understanding of the irradiation performance of tungsten through coupled modeling and experiment.