Intermetallic Dispersion Strengthened 'IDS-Steels' for Generation IV Nuclear

This programme will develop a new generation of creep-resistant Intermetallic Dispersion Strengthened 'IDS-steels', capable of withstanding the demanding operating requirements of Generation IV reactors, Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR), and Advanced Technology Fuels (ATF). The interlinked UK-India team comprises researchers from Birmingham, Bangor, Manchester, IGCAR and BARC, supporting early career researchers, and two-way research and academic visits.

In order to meet the UK and India's future energy demand and decarbonisation commitments under the Paris Agreements nuclear energy will be of vital importance. Both the UK and India are developing future Generation IV nuclear fission technologies that would reduce the cost and waste production of nuclear energy, whilst being intrinsically 'walk away' safe. Gen IV reactor designs employ advanced coolants, such as molten metal (e.g. Na), molten salt, or gas coolants, which require high operation temperatures of 500-800 degrees C. This is significantly higher than current water cooled reactors, and as such requires advanced structural materials with increased capability over those currently employed.

A variety of advanced materials are under consideration and development to meet the needs of Gen IV reactors and their more aggressive conditions (coolant chemistry, temperature and radiation damage) when compared to current reactors. Despite major successes there remains significant challenges to obtain the required balance of properties for Gen IV advanced reactors and a continued need to develop new materials.

A material that has shown significant promise and has opened up a new research area is
Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels, developed over the last 30 years. However, there remains challenges related to manufacturability on commercial scales. In the last decade there has been rapid development of advanced intermetallic reinforced steels for non-nuclear, with exceptional improvement in properties. This has been driven by great improvement in materials modelling, namely atomic scale modelling (DFT) and thermodynamic databases (CALPHAD), allowing for acceleration of the alloy development process. In this work we propose a new approach learning from the successes of nuclear ODS-steels, non-nuclear intermetallic reinforced steels, and the advances in materials modelling. A new generation of creep-resistant ODS-like 'Intermetallic Dispersion Strengthened' 'IDS-steels' will be developed capable of withstanding the demanding operating requirements of Generation IV reactors.

Two-way knowledge exchange between the UK and India is a core part of this proposal such that long-lasting connections are developed that go beyond the duration of grant. This is highlighted throughout the Work Packages where expertise from both sides are combined. These strong interlinks will be ensured by bi-yearly visits of 1-2 weeks alternating between the UK and India including embedded researcher time in the resective labs, quarterly UK meetings including conference calls to India, with the findings of the project then presented at an open end-of-grant UK-India workshop.

This project represents a timely effort in the development of new alloys fit-for-purpose for the next generation of nuclear reactors to be built in the UK and support parallel efforts in India. The UK has made impressive progress in decarbonising its electricity generation, with a 50% reduction in carbon emissions since 2013 and 50% of production coming from low-carbon means in 2017, which is further emphasised this year by the UK becoming the first major economy to pass net zero emissions law, requiring all greenhouse gas emissions be brought to net zero by 2050. Nuclear power is well-placed to ensure further de-carbonisation is economically feasible - often described as "deep decarbonisation".

Nuclear energy advances have been hindered by cost, perceived safety and concerns over long-lived waste. Generation IV nuclear power not only targets lower costs and walk-away safety but also a reduced waste production. The eminent issues revolve around materials behaviour and structural integrity - providing the impetus and necessity to develop a new generation of structural alloy that not only aims to fulfil the materials properties necessary for a successful new-build, but also the costs and licensability necessary too. The UK's intentions for Gen IV have been highlighted through the UK re-joining the Gen IV International Forum (GIF) in 2018 and the UK Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) Gen IV/fusion programme. However, Gen IV requires materials innovations to meet the required increased temperature and dose demands. This research targets such innovation to enable a UK Gen IV nuclear renaissance.

This impact will be realised through the highly skilled, enthusiastic team that has been built in the UK and India. The academics involved in the project have a strong track record in publishing their work in leading journal allowing the results to span the industry, spurring on further industrially focused developments.

If new innovations in terms of reactor design and advanced fuel cycles are not permitted to be realised as a result of materials, not fit for purpose, the industry, economy and populous will suffer. Whether the issue is climate change, security of supply for energy or maintaining a skilled workforce, nuclear energy is pivotal to the UK and India's ambitions and as a result this project should be supported to ensure progress is sustained.