Advanced Ceramic Materials for High Temperature Nuclear Applications

In order to achieve the President¿s energy policy, which may involve the elimination of greenhouse-gas-producing power sources by 2040, nuclear power ¿ in particular, Generation IV (Gen IV) nuclear power ¿ is expected to play an important role. The current goal of the Gen IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative is to develop the advanced materials needed to enable a rich and viable future for the United States¿ nuclear industry. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of a scalable process for the production of ceramic composites, with intimate control of the characteristics of the fiber-matrix interface. The approach will involve leveraging the concepts and infrastructure of electroforming to enable the high-volume, low-cost processing and forming of these advanced ceramic parts. In addition, an electrochemical process for ceramic composite joining, which leverages existing electrochemical welding systems currently used in the nuclear industry, will be developed. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee:The technology should find application in a number of high temperature and irradiative environments. Potential users include the nuclear power industry, the fusion (Tokamak) reactor program, and NASA. In addition, the technology should lay the foundation for the use of ceramics in a number of high temperature applications, including turbines