Materials Assessment for the Canadian SCWR Core Concept

As part of the development effort of the Generation IV Forum, Canada has undertaken research to support the conceptual design of a pressure-tube-based supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR). With an outlet temperature of 625°C and a coolant pressure of 25 MPa, this concept requires fuel-cladding materials that can sustain very harsh in-core conditions. After reviewing the worldwide efforts in SCWR materials since the 1950s, a materials program was created to identify and assess candidate alloys that have potential to operate for 3.5 years as a fuel cladding. An overview of the key aspects and the overall results of this program are presented in this paper, while detailed discussions of individual projects in this program are provided in the accompanying papers of this issue. Further materials R&D work should focus on improving the resistance to stress corrosion cracking, high-temperature strength and ductility as well as microstructural stability.