Materials research and development opportunities in fusion reactors

Abstract

Next generation fusion reactors would demand new materials and technologies that can sustain extreme nuclear environment. Materials development activities related to structural materials, shields, superconducting magnets, breeder materials, plasma facing materials, function materials and coatings have been accelerated in the last two decades. Out of these, recent research activities are focused mainly on structural materials, plasma facing materials and breeder materials. Generation of appropriate nuclear testing and materials characterization facilities is also required to complement such materials research & development activities. In this context, an overview of the scenario of materials R&D activities in India and abroad has been discussed in this chapter.