Fusion Materials: Structural Requirements

This lecture covers the requirements for structural materials in fusion reactors, focusing on their ability to withstand high neutron fluxes, low activation levels, and high operating temperatures. It discusses the effects of 14 MeV neutrons on materials, including mechanical impacts, transmutation reactions, and microstructural changes. The lecture also explores candidate materials such as reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels, vanadium alloys, tungsten alloys, and SiC/SiC composites, emphasizing the need for extensive testing due to limited experimental knowledge. The importance of material science in fusion energy research is highlighted.