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Joining of Reduced Activation Martensitic Steels to Austenitic Steels – Materials Strand Project

Supervisors: Aneeqa Khan, Ed Pickering, Anastasia Vasileiou (University of Manchester) & Frances Livera, (UKAEA).

Structural components in a fusion reactor must withstand the diverse range of demands placed on them by the operating environment, including 14 MeV neutron irradiation, He exposure and high temperatures. Currently the UK Atomic Enery Authority (UKAEA) is running the NEURONE (NEUtron iRradiatiOn of advaNced stEels) programme to develop and deliver an industrially scalable fusion-grade advanced steel capable of operating at 650°C in a fusion breeder-blanket environment. As part of this, both reduced activation, ferritic, martensitic (RAFM) and austenitic steels are being investigated.

Due to poor activation and swelling issues with traditional austenitic stainless steels such as 316 LSS, there has been a strong focus on developing RAFM steels because of their reduced activation and swelling resistance. However, RAFM steels have several drawbacks, such as increased embrittlement, low corrosion resistance and challenges in large scale fabrication. Therefore it may be that a combination of both materials will be required to fulfil the complex requirements of a fusion reactor.

Traditionally joining of RAFM to RAFM and austentitic to austenitic steels have been investigated. However, there is limited research on joining of RAFM to austenitic steels. This project therefore will investigate the feasibility and quality of joining of RAFM to austenitic steels. This will involve working with UKAEA to manufacture and characterise novel joins. Characterisation will be carried out experimentally with techniques such as electron microscopy, micro hardness testing and residual strain measurements. The results will then inform the down selection of materials and joining techniques in the NEURONE programme.

To summarise the objectives of the project:

  • Manufacture of novel joins between RAFM and austenitic steels
  • Characterise the joins experimentally 
  • Determine the feasibility RAFM/austenitic steel joins for future fusion reactors and suggest an optimum technique.

The project will be based at the University of Manchester. It will be supervised by Dr. Aneeqa Khan, Dr. Anastasia Vasileiou and Dr Ed Pickering at UoM and Dr Frances Livera at UKAEA.

The project is based in Manchester but will involve collaboration with UKAEA.

During the first six months of the PhD, materials strand students will typically travel to attend taught modules at all six of the Fusion CDT partner universities.

This project is offered by University of Manchester. For further information please contact: Aneeqa Khan Aneeqa.khan@manchester.ac.uk 

This project may be compatible with part time study, please contact the project supervisors if you are interested in exploring this.

For details on how to apply, please visit: Apply