MATERIALS AND ENERGY.

Abstract

The subject of this paper in the Distinguished Lectureship in Materials and Society series is the contribution of materials to the problem of meeting the needs of society for energy. It is stated that the conditions under which materials are expected to operate in power plant are becoming increasingly severe, as temperatures, stresses, chemical and - in nuclear reactors - radiation attacks are raised to higher levels of intensity, in the struggle for greater outputs and higher efficiencies. Difficulties with materials have blocked the development for large-scale usage of several new types of power plant, alghouth advances in superconducting materials have opened new possibilities in other directions. There is a great and growing need for better materials for catalysts; a major breakthrough here could bring big social benefits.