Motivation for utilizing new high-performance advanced materials in nuclear energy systems. Issue 6 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zinkle, S.J.; Terrani, K.A.; Snead, L.L.
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in solid state & materials science. Volume 20:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 401
• Page End: 410
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Nuclear materials -- Reactor pressure vessel steels -- Fuel cladding -- Accident tolerant fuels -- Light water reactors -- Sodium-cooled fast reactors -- Very high temperature gas-cooled reactors; Materials science -- Periodicals; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2016.10.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-0286

Abstract

Highlights: Advanced materials can improve accident tolerance & safety margins and reduce costs. Advanced/duct materials are crucial for sodium-cooled fast reactor economics. Ceramic composite materials are useful for high temperature gas cooled reactors. Abstract: Despite the very demanding operational environment in nuclear reactors, there have been relatively few advanced high-performance materials introduced into fission reactors during the past 50 years. Some of the regulatory and operational barriers to the introduction of high performance materials are briefly discussed, and several examples of potential improvement in current and planned fission reactor systems that could be enabled by advanced structural materials for in-core applications are outlined. Enhanced non-proprietary public-private research and development on advanced structural materials could yield numerous performance, economic, environmental and safety benefits for current boiling water and pressurized water reactors as well as future Generation IV reactor systems such as sodium cooled fast reactors or very high temperature gas cooled reactors.