US lab tests fusion materials for strong nuclear reactor 'blanket'

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have centralized their nuclear materials research in a new Translational Research Capability building to focus on the development of materials for fusion reactor blankets. These blankets, crucial components in magnetic confinement fusion devices like tokamaks and stellarators, must withstand harsh environments created by molten salts and liquid metals used as heat-transfer fluids. While these fluids enable high operating temperatures at low pressures, they also cause corrosion and material degradation, posing significant challenges. ORNL’s Corrosion Science and Technology Group is investigating how structural materials respond to these conditions, including the effects of neutron irradiation, mechanical stress, and atomic-level changes that can lead to embrittlement and cracking. The fusion blanket serves multiple purposes: absorbing heat and neutron energy to generate electricity and produce fuel on-site. Although fusion research has traditionally emphasized plasma sustainability, the blanket’s complex material interactions require dedicated study, especially regarding the incorporation of molten salts. ORNL leverages decades of expertise from past projects like the Molten Salt