Russia's carbon composite nuclear reactor materials beat 2912°F test

Engineers at Rosatom’s machine-building division have successfully manufactured full-sized structural components for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) using carbon-carbon composite materials. These components, including a 1650 mm core support element and a flexible control system, demonstrated physical stability at temperatures up to 2912°F (1600°C) during extreme testing. The carbon composite materials offer significant advantages over traditional metallic alloys, such as enhanced reliability, reduced mass and size of reactor plants, and high resistance to radiation and aggressive environments. This development supports the production of a 200 MW thermal power reactor within an Atomic Energy-Technological Station (AETS) that uses helium coolant to achieve outlet temperatures of 1562°F (850°C) and generate superheated steam at 1382°F (750°C). The use of carbon-carbon composites enables the reactor to meet the high-temperature requirements necessary for industrial chemical processes, including hydrogen and ammonia production. The manufacturing process was refined using existing industrial equipment, demonstrating the