Materials for Nuclear Engineering

Engineering Composite Materials

Complexity in nuclear materials.

Nuclear power remains a contentious issue for many. Its proponents point towards it being a cost-competitive, feasible route for meeting our ever growing appetite for energy, with relatively low greenhouse gas emissions (Nature Mater. 7, 679; 2008). Those against a nuclear-led energy policy cite concerns over the devastating impact a nuclear incident can have, as well as the complex scientific ...

Thermodynamics of Nuclear Materials

In general, thermodynamics is the study of laws governing processes which involve heat changes. It includes the study of conditions under which various substances exist in chemical equilibria, the consequences of chemical reactions and the interchange of heat and other forms of energy when a chemical re action occurs. In the field of nuclear technology, it is necessary to know how construction ...

Towards systems materials engineering.

Materials science has evolved over the past decades so that there is now an increasing need for efforts from the various subfields of materials science and engineering to come together to solve grand challenges. Such issues were discussed at a symposium on energy at the Collège de France1 that involved both the socio-economical stakes as well as the technological challenges. Indeed, nowhere has...

Engineering Living Functional Materials

Natural materials, such as bone, integrate living cells composed of organic molecules together with inorganic components. This enables combinations of functionalities, such as mechanical strength and the ability to regenerate and remodel, which are not present in existing synthetic materials. Taking a cue from nature, we propose that engineered 'living functional materials' and 'living material...