PhD Studentship: Materials Science and Engineering: PhD Studentship in Sustainable Fusion Steels: Whole Lifecycle Design of Tokamak Vacuum Vessel Steels

Commercialising fusion energy is vital for achieving global net-zero targets and strengthening UK energy security. A key challenge is developing reactor materials that meet strict safety requirements while also being practical to manufacture at industrial scale. This PhD focuses on making tokamak vacuum vessel steels more sustainable across their full lifecycle. The project explores how recycled steel can be used at the start of life while minimising radioactive waste at the end of life.

Fusion materials normally restrict elements such as nickel and molybdenum because they become long-lived radioactive isotopes under neutron exposure. However, these elements are common in recycled scrap, the main feedstock for modern electric-arc-furnace steelmaking. This research investigates how recycled steel can still be used by focusing on the vacuum vessel, which experiences lower neutron exposure and therefore allows greater tolerance of residual elements.

This will be achieved using computational materials design/engineering to accelerate the discovery of novel steels. This involves utilising several different modelling techniques together with rapid alloy prototyping methods to first design and then create lab-scale prototypes of the novel steels. This offers an exciting balance of computer modelling and practical lab work, on a project with excellent potential for real world impact.

More information can be found at: Projects - Fusion CDT

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