Nuclear Materials

Royce activity within this Research Area is increasing the UK’s existing economic strengths and competitive advantages in nuclear energy by enabling innovation and research in radioactive materials.

Using an experiment-with-modelling approach through a co-ordinated network of national laboratories, nuclear user facilities, and expertise, the Nuclear Materials Research Area is supporting vibrant industry and academic-led programmes which will accelerate nuclear’s contribution to deep decarbonisation.

Home / Research / Research Areas / Nuclear Materials

Introduction and Scope

Next generation fission and fusion power stations require development of more resilient materials due to the increased demands they place on materials, from corrosion to high radiation fields and severe thermal loads.

Nuclear materials will enable innovation in radioactive materials research by providing a ‘bridge in activity’ between accessible low-activity studies at academic locations and the difficult to access high-activity capability available at NNL Central Lab. Along with the National Nuclear User Facility (NNUF), we are building a national network of co-ordinated user facilities with increased applicability and functionality.

We will also seek to enhance modelling across length and time scales to aid in the development of new codes and standards, which will positively benefit new nuclear build and potentially have impact across multiple sectors.

Current and Future Research

To support development of advanced fission and fusion systems, and management of the nuclear legacy through:

High Temperature Nuclear Systems – safety critical systems exposed to high thermal loads in AMRs (Graphite, Cladding) and Fusion designs;
The Plutonium Lifecycle – investigating the properties of plutonium to inform future decisions on management of the largest civilian stockpile in the world, through use as MOX fuel for AMRs and/or disposal as waste;
Materials Degradation – helping develop new codes & standards, including innovative manufacturing methods, to accelerate regulatory approval and in-service performance of new nuclear power;
Accident Tolerant Fuels – manufacturing, characterising, and testing denser and safer fuels (U3Si2, TRISO) for deployment into LWRs, LINKS SMRs and AMRs.

Links

The strategic investment from NNUF and Royce will accelerate low TRL investigations to underpin development of resilient materials innovations, enabling translation through to the Catapult network (NAMRC), TWI, international science programmes and laboratories (Halden Reactor, EUROfusion, Idaho National Laboratory, Japan Atomic Energy Authority, Department of Energy/PNNL, Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) and the nuclear industry (Rolls-Royce, Jacobs, EDF, and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Estate).

Technology Platforms

Royce Technology Platforms are groupings of cutting-edge facilities and expertise. Each Platform has a Technology Platform Lead responsible for developing and enhancing the facilities and supporting related research activities which utilise Royce Equipment

Fuels & Irradiated Materials Analysis

This platform houses state-of-the-art active equipment for the manufacture, testing and post-irradiation characterisation of α, β and γ active nuclear materials to support current nuclear power generation.

Learn more

Irradiation Environments

This platform is focused on understanding of the complex interactions between ionising radiation and materials or processes. To enable this research, the facility houses large-scale sources of ionising radiation and a range of material modification, characterisation, and analytical equipment.

Learn More

Materials & Thermal Treatment for Radioactive Waste Management

This platforms facilitates radiological thermal conditioning processes, the development of advanced and novel ceramic, glass and cementitious wasteform materials and provide unique characterisation capability for α and β-loaded radioactive waste simulants, allowing for detailed structural post-irradiation examination.

Learn More

Non Actinide Irradiated Materials

The Non Actinide Irradiated Materials Handling, Characterisation and Testing Platform facilitates preparation, characterisation and testing of β/γ radioactive materials. It bridges the gap between low activity university facilities and the high activity licensed nuclear sites.

Learn more

Irradiated Materials, Fuels & Actinides

This platforms enables post-irradiation characterisation of α, β and γ highly active nuclear material using remote handling techniques, providing capability to size reduce, prepare and characterise irradiated material using optical microscopy, SEM, Raman Spectroscopy and small-scale mechanical testing.

Learn More