It could solve the corrosion and thermal challenges of lead-cooled reactors.

The development of this steel was conducted under the “Breakthrough” (Proryv) project, which focuses on the implementation of a closed nuclear fuel cycle using fast neutron reactors.

The new steel provides corrosion resistance and thermal stability at temperatures up to 600°C (1,112°F).

According to Sergei Logashov, Director of the Institute of Materials Science at CNIITMASH, the material was designed using computer modeling and data from heavy liquid metal coolant systems.