| Abstract Scope |
Water-cooled reactors have been operating for more than seven decades as a safe, reliable, and emission-free energy source. Current plants rely on materials for which manufacturing processes exist and irradiation behavior is understood. In parallel, many alternative reactor designs have been built and operated for testing and commercial use. These efforts were focused in 2002 by the selection of six reactors with goals for advances in sustainability, economics, safety, reliability and proliferation-resistance for development under the international Generation IV program. Many variants of these advanced reactors are now under development to produce electricity, hydrogen, and process heat. Material operating conditions in these applications generally exceed those of the current reactor fleet, and commercial availability of materials optimized for use in advanced reactor systems is a widespread issue. Material needs that support development of advanced reactors and potential production pathways for these materials will be discussed. |