Progress and critical issues of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel development

The inherent properties of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) s teels include reduced swelling and high recycling potential, which make the m likely candidates for application in commercial fusion power plants. The International Energy Agency (IEA) agreement has been an effective framework for international co-operation in developing RAFM steers. The progress and critical issues observed in this co-operation are reported. The production of RAFM steels on an industrial scale has been demonstrated. Various metho ds of fusion welding and solid hot isostatic pressing (HIP) are feasible fo r joining the steels. Manufacturing of complex shapes with the powder HIP m ethod works well for RAFM steers. Major critical issues addressed concern t he effects of simultaneous introduction of helium and displacement damage. The availability of a 14 MeV neutron source is identified as an essential t ool to determine this effect. Finally, the potential of oxide dispersion st rengthening to increase the operating temperature of RAFM steels is conside red as an issue that has to be resolved to enlarge the application temperat ure window of RAFM steels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.