European scientists kick off fusion materials project FEMAS

13 Oct 2008 - Sabina Griffith

On 8 October more than 50 scientists from 27 European universities and research facilities met at the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasmaphysics (IPP) in Garching, Germany, to launch a new project called Fusion Energy Materials Science (FEMAS). The goal of FEMAS is to develop new materials for future fusion power plants.

For the effective operation of these fusion power plants, advanced low-activation and radiation resistant materials are required to resist the effects of high neutron fluxes, high surface heat loads and physical as well as chemical erosion.

The 27 FEMAS partners stem from various fields of research such as numerical simulation, irradiation facilities and modern analyses and test procedures. The three-year project is an integral part of the European Fusion Programme with a budget of EUR 3.25 million, of which the European Union is paying 65 percent.

Read the IPP press release... in German.