Metallic materials for pressurized water reactor components
Article REF: BN3730 V2

Metallic materials for pressurized water reactor components

Authors : Rémi COPPARD, Nicolas HERVE, Laurent de BAGLION de la DUFFERIE

Publication date: December 10, 2025 | Lire en français

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Overview

ABSTRACT

The stringent demands for safety, reliability, and durability that are intrinsic to the nuclear industry have motivated the choice of specific metallic materials. In this context, the current article details the main metallic materials used in the construction of pressurized water reactors (PWRs), including their development and recent technological advancements.

After presenting the general material requirements for nuclear reactor structural materials, the technical solutions developed to meet the specific needs of the PWR fleet, by considering various components of the primary and secondary circuits, are discussed. Emerging manufacturing processes for these components are also addressed.

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AUTHORS

  • Rémi COPPARD: Metallurgical Engineer - Framatome, France

  • Nicolas HERVE: Metallurgical Engineer - Framatome, France

  • Laurent de BAGLION de la DUFFERIE: Metallurgical engineer, fatigue expert - Framatome, France

 INTRODUCTION

The development of new techniques and technologies depends to a large extent on the ability of the materials used to perform satisfactorily, both during fabrication and in service. This is particularly true in the nuclear power industry, given the very high standards of safety, security, reliability, and durability that are required.

The article [BN 3 679] provides an overview of the materials used in the nuclear power industry and addresses the full range of challenges faced by nuclear reactor components. Building on this, the purpose of this article is to detail the main materials used in the construction of nuclear reactors, their development, and their evolution alongside technical progress. Since not all grades of material can be covered in this article, certain specialized publications may be consulted for this purpose (see references

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KEYWORDS

materials   |   steels   |   PWR   |   nickel base alloys

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