The UK challenge

The developments in materials nuclear research facilities are discussed. According to the World Nuclear Association, 60 nuclear power stations are being built in 14 countries around the world, with more than 150 planned and 340 proposed. Key areas to develop and deploy new manufacturing technologies into new plant are innovative joining, advanced machining, and near-net shape manufacture. For corrosion studies, active loading autoclaves with advanced chemistry control are available in a few UK industrial and academic centers of excellence. The facilities at the National Nuclear Laboratory's Central Laboratory offer the capability to undertake active materials R&D, and access to 10% of these facilities is now available to UK academic researchers through a third party user process facilitated by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.