Nuclear power

Nuclear reactor breakthrough: New materialcan replace costly nickel alloys
The new material showed exceptionalresistance to corrosion, a crucial characteristic for materials operatingwithin the harsh conditions of a nuclear reactor.
Updated: Aug 03, 2024 05:00 AM EST

Rupendra Brahambhatt
a day ago
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The newmaterial underwent intense radiation simulation using heavy ions.
tanyss/iStock
The US has set a target to produce 100 percent of its electricity usingrenewable energy sources by 2035, and nuclear power will play a major role inits clean energy transition.
About 20 percent of all theelectricity produced in the US already comes from nuclear power plants.However, this isn’t enough. If the country wants to become a leader in theclean energy space, it needs to boost its nuclear energy program and make itsnuclear plants more efficient than ever.
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A big issue with nuclear reactors is their dependency on nickel-basedalloys, which are expensive and are abundantly found in countries (like Russia,Indonesia, Philippines) that are not always on good terms with the US.Moreover, the high moisture content of nickel ore poses transport challenges aswell.
Addressing these issues, a team of researchers from Department of Energy‘s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory (AGL) have developed a framework to find material that could replace these nickel-based alloys. Using their framework, the AGL team identified and tested some promising materials.
In fact, the researchers have identified a new material that cansuccessfully endure intense radiation testing and withstand extreme reactorconditions for extended periods.
The useof nickel-based alloys in nuclear reactors
For context, nickel-basedalloys play a crucial role in nuclear reactors. These materials haveexceptional properties, such as high corrosion resistance, mechanical strength at extreme temperatures, and resistance to radiation damage.
This is why nickel-based alloys are used as a protective coating fordifferent components of a nuclear reactor.
For instance, these are used for cladding the fuel rods used in a reactor. The cladding serves as a barrier to contain radioactive materials and shield the fuel from coolant.
These alloys are also used for various other purposes, such as enhancingthe strength and durability of diverse structural components in reactors.
Testingthe new framework and a new material
According to the researchers, an ideal coating material must have highcorrosion resistance as it has to withstand extreme temperatures and radiationduring the operations of a nuclear power plant.
A poor coating material canadversely affect a reactor’s performance and even pose safety issues rangingfrom overheating to radiation leakage. The new framework considers all these factors while identifying and proposing an alternative to nickel-based alloys.
“With this new framework, we have more input from multi-physicssimulations to make sure each iteration gives enough improvement. We make sureeach change would be beneficial and that helps us speed up the optimizationprocedure,” said Yinbin Miao, a researcher at AGL.
It basically involves performing repeated experiments and testing until anoptimized solution is found. For instance, using the framework, the researchersidentified a material that could work as an alternative to nickel-based alloys.
Testingof the new material
The research team tested the new material by exposing it to high radiation conditions using the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS), a large device used to study atomic nuclei.
The material was bombarded with heavy ions to simulate the intenseradiation conditions within a reactor.
Interestingly, the new materialdemonstrated a high level of resistance to corrosion, which is essential forwithstanding the harsh environment inside a nuclear reactor. Notably, this resistance was a primary focus for the researchers.
Besides, the testing allowed the researchers to simulate a year’s worthof reactor exposure in just one day.
Promisingimplications
“The new ATLAS Materials Irradiation Station degraded the material’sproperties as much in a day as a nuclear reactor does in a year, minus thelong-lasting radioactivity. They demonstrated that the new material couldindeed withstand reactor conditions and resist corrosion,” theresearchers note.
Now that the tested material has shown immense significance for nuclearapplications, the AGL team will soon patent it.
These results successfully showthat the framework can lead to the identification of promising nickel alloyalternatives. It can lower the overall expenses of nuclear reactor constructionand maintenance. Additionally, these alternative materials can be easily andsafely transported, mitigating potential hazards.