Qualification of Spark Plasma Sintering method for Industrial Scale Production of ODS Steels for Future Nuclear Reactors

The Oxide Dispersion Strengthening (ODS) Steels are candidate materials for future nuclear reactors such as in the cladding and tubing of high-temperature Gen IV fission reactors and the blanket surrounding the vessel of fusion reactors. The ODS steels with added nano-size yttrium oxides (Y2O3) provide resistance against irradiation, creep, and swelling. Continuous exposure of high dose neutron irradiation at extremely high temperatures transforms the nanoparticles into new complex oxides which degrades the mechanical properties and irradiation resistance; both conditions in nuclear reactor applications are ill-characterised. In this work, for the very first time, we will use thermally aged and irradiated ODS steels manufactured with Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) to obtain the stability of nanoprecipitates and their coarsening characteristics. Underpinning the SPS-based consolidation process capable of safeguarding their use in the nuclear reactor life cycle by resisting ageing due to thermal and irradiation loads will lead to the qualification of the manufacturing of ODS steels for industrial applications and length scales.