UMP JSC presented new material for nuclear and fusion power

The development of scientists from KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany) received the second prize at the 31st International Symposium on Fusion Technology SOFT 2020 in Croatia. The idea of the development is to use titanium beryllide in fusion reactors. The practical part of the development is based on studies of titanium beryllide samples manufactured and tested at UMP.

The joint work of UMP with the scientists from Karlsruhe resulted in the development of an industrial process for titanium beryllide production. At the moment, the process of acquisition of a patent for UMP JSC invention is underway.

In addition to usage in future fusion reactors, the new structural material can be used in reflectors of fission reactors, in rocket and space technology.

Titanium beryllide manufactured at UMP has a number of unique properties. It can withstand higher operating temperatures than beryllium and has better corrosion resistance. The material has a very low uranium content – 500 times less than beryllium produced by Materion Brush (USA). The beryllide as obtained has a fairly high density – 98% of the theoretical one, and small grain size of 8 microns.

UMP employees have developed a technological method for producing titanium beryllide. The resulting product was successfully tested in mode that simulates operating conditions of the reactor. For this purpose, the model of titanium beryllide block was subjected to 50 cycles of thermal cycling in induction furnace with heating up to 900оС.

In the near future, it is planned to study the properties of the material together with the interested laboratories in Europe, the USA, Japan, and South Korea, having special-purpose research equipment.

• Ulba Metallurgical Plant JSC is one of the world's well-known producers of uranium, beryllium, tantalum and niobium products for the needs of nuclear power, electronic, metallurgical industry and other fields of activity. The company is a part of National Atomic Company Kazatomprom.

• NAC Kazatomprom JSC is a world leader in the production of natural uranium and the national operator in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the import and export of uranium, rare metals and nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants. The assets include all the complexes of companies involved in the production chain of final products – from geological exploration, uranium mining and nuclear fuel production, to science, social security and training.