3D printing of tungsten is being studied to improve safety in nuclear reactors

At Iowa State University, Assistant Professor Sougata Roy and his team are breaking new ground in using 3D printing to develop tungsten components, a key material for withstanding the extreme conditions inside nuclear reactors. With a new $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy , Roy and his team are looking to leverage the advantages of additive manufacturing to improve the efficiency and safety of these systems.

Does 3D printing tungsten reduce costs in nuclear energy?

Tungsten has been identified as an ideal material for the inner walls of fusion reactors due to its ability to withstand high temperatures, erosion, and exposure to high-energy neutron radiation. However, working with this metal in the traditional way is expensive, as it is extremely hard and brittle . This is where 3D printing technology comes in. Using laser powder blowing directed energy deposition, researchers can fabricate tungsten alloys layer by layer, improving the process and reducing costs.

This project has the potential to transform the way we create components for nuclear energy. It is a collaborative effort between universities and national laboratories that can make a difference in the transition to cleaner and more efficient energy sources.

Roy said.

Furthermore, one of the most innovative aspects of the project is the use of computational simulations and physics-based models to complement the experiments. These tools, which include machine learning, will allow researchers to optimize experimental results and develop new, more fracture-resistant tungsten alloys.

This research effort falls under the Department of Energy’s EPSCoR program , which has allocated $36 million to boost energy research across the country. Roy and his team’s work not only represents a breakthrough in metal 3D printing , but also a significant step toward the future of clean nuclear energy.

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Source and photo: Iowa State University