International strategy for fusion materials development

In this paper, the results of an IEA-Workshop on Strategy and Planning of F usion Materials Research and Development (R&D), held in October 1998 in Ris e Denmark are summarised and further developed. Essential performance targe ts for materials to be used in first wall/breeding blanket components have been defined for the major materials groups under discussion: ferritic-mart ensitic steels, vanadium alloys and ceramic composites of the SiC/SiC-type. R&D strategies are proposed for their further development and qualificatio n as reactor-relevant materials. The important role of existing irradiation facilities (mainly fission reactors) for materials testing within the next decade is described, and the limits for the transfer of results from such simulation experiments to fusion-relevant conditions are addressed. The imp ortance of a fusion-relevant high-intensity neutron source for the developm ent of structural as well as breeding and special purpose materials is elab orated and the reasons for the selection of an accelerator-driven D-Li-neut ron source - the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF ) - as an appropriate test bed are explained. Finally the necessity to exec ute the materials programme for fusion in close international collaboration , presently promoted by the International Energy Agency, IEA is emphasised. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.