CryoFusion · Improving surface and bulk properties of promising fusion material using deep cryogenic treatment

With progress and development of society, the necessity of a more affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is crucial to stability and prosperity of ever-growing population. For this reason, fusion power is being researched and developed to obtain high amounts of stable and greener energy compared to conventionally fossil fuel-based and fission processes. Materials, which are being tested as possible candidates for fusion reactor components, are mainly based on the previous selections designated for fission nuclear power. However, their implementation is not easily transmittable and has been proven to be considerably challenging. Consequently, there is a high interest towards research of new development and processing (such as heat treatment) of selected materials applicable for fusion as well as materials that were not previously considered. The proposal suggests to conduct fundamental research on selected material (proposed alternative AISI 431) and its treatment, which has the potential to be used as material for fusion reactor components. The project tends to provide base understanding on how deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) improves materials’ properties for fusion applications through their microstructural tailoring. Focus is placed on the role of modified microstructure as well as nano-chemistry on the corrosion resistance, which is up to now only superficially explored. Due to the unique influence of DCT on microstructure, the process can provide a novel greener way of material treatment that is both highly effective as well as economically feasible. The proposal challenges promising alternative material for fusion and aims to show how DCT can effectively improve microstructure, corrosion and surface resistance of selected material. Furthermore, the project will also develop new fundamental knowledge of DCT effect on metallic materials in order to provide future possibilities and treatment combinations for materials used in fusion.