Tungsten in nuclear fusion, page-4

Below is another of the ever increasing articles demonstrating a new and additional worldwide interest in the use of tungsten in the nuclear fusion process.
This particular article relates to the UK Atomic Energy Authority contracting to a supplier for a part required in the reactor which will be needed to be "coated" with tungsten.
Tungsten is clearly the preferred material due to its high heat tolerance.

I posted earlier on this thread about how it will result in a new application of tungsten and therefore increased demand, and a poster (gtc61) responded by saying that this technology is decades away.

Whilst gtc61 is correct that the ultimate end use of energy available from this process will be a long way away, the below article is proof positive that the actual demand for tungsten is much more of a "here and now situation" as Energy Agencies ramp up their reactor technology.

As we speak, there are probably more than 50 nuclear reactors around the world which are currently under construction, and now that the Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratory have successfully achieved nuclear fusion ignition, and many quantum physics papers have since been published expounding the preferred use of tungsten to be used inside the reactor itself, I think it is fair to say that all these Energy Agencies will be scouring the planet for sources of tungsten NOW - definitely not in decades

Thankfully, when they conduct their due diligence searching for tungsten, EQR will be more than just a little blimp on their radar.
The world knows about us already - from the Aust & Qld Govts to the big tungsten players and end users around the world all the way to the Geo Societies and the US DoD - they are all watching us grow as a producer and they are keenly following our trajectory.

https://www.metal-am.com/freemelt-to-develop-3d-printed-tungsten-for-fusion-energy-project/

Freemelt todevelop AM tungsten for fusion energy project

February13, 2023

Freemelt is developing tungstenmaterial processes for its eMELT technology (Courtesy Freemelt)

FreemeltHolding AB, Mölndal, Sweden, has received an order for a materials developmentproject from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The project,valued at around €90,000, will see the Additive Manufacturing of tungstencomponents for use in fusion energy power plants.

Tungstenhas great mechanical strength, high corrosion resistance and a melting point of3,400°C. These features make it particularly suitable for use in industrialprocesses involving extreme temperatures, such as fusion energy production.

“We aredeveloping tungsten material processes for eMELT, our coming industrial metal3D printer. Tungsten is difficult to manufacture with traditional methods andcan be costly. Using our electron beam technology and our software, Pixelmelt,we will develop methods to enable production at scale,” stated Daniel Gidlund,CEO, Freemelt. “We look forward to working with UKAEA in attempt to put fusionelectricity on the grid.”

Fusionenergy has the potential to provide a safe, low-carbon and sustainable part ofthe world’s future energy supply. To produce this energy, fusion machinesfunction by merging hydrogen atoms to helium. The heat from this process is thesame process undergone by the sun and, as expected, produces extreme heat whichnecessitates the most heat-resistant metals in the chamber walls of the fusionmachine.

“Fusionenergy development is one of the greatest scientific and engineering challengesof our time,” stated Dr Miguel Zavala-Arredondo at the United Kingdom AtomicEnergy Authority.

Gidlundconcluded, “Tungsten is one of the strategic materials that Freemelt isdeveloping and where we have made great progress in recent years. When we alsohave the opportunity to be part of the development of renewable energy, this issomething we as a company are very inspired in and dedicated to.”