Revolutionary Material Safeguards Fusion Reactor Walls by Absorbing and Releasing Hydrogen

Engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new material using a cold spray coating technology that can withstand the harsh conditions inside a fusion reactor. The material, a tantalum coating on stainless steel, has shown excellent performance in extreme fusion reactor conditions and has the unique ability to trap hydrogen particles. This discovery could lead to more efficient and compact fusion reactors that are easier to repair and maintain. The cold spray process also allows for on-site repair of reactor components, reducing costs and downtime. The researchers plan to use this material in the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) experiment, which aims to develop a next-generation fusion power plant.