THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-ACTIVATION FERRITIC STEELS FOR FUSION APPLICATION

The development of low-activation ferritic/martensitic steels is a key to the achievement of nuclear fusion as a safe, environmentally attra ctive and economically competitive energy source. The Japanese and the European Fusion Materials programs have put low-activation ferritic a nd martensitic steels R & D at the highest priority for a demonstratio n reactor (DEMO) and the beyond. An international collaborative test p rogram on low-activation ferritic/martensitic steels for fusion is in progress as an activity of the International Energy Agency (IEA) fusio n materials working group to verify the feasibility of using ferritic/ martensitic steels for fusion by an extensive test program covering th e most relevant technical issues for the qualification of a material f or a nuclear application. The development of a comprehensive data base on the representative industrially processed reduced-activation steel s of type 8-9Cr-2WVTa is underway for providing designers a preliminar y set of material data for the mechanical design of components, e.g. f or DEMO relevant blanket modules. The current design status of FFHR an d SSTR utilizing low-activation ferritic steels is reviewed and future prospects are defined.