Evolution of cryogenic structural material development for superconducting coils in fusion reactor

Shimamoto, Susumu*; Nakajima, Hideo; Takahashi, Yoshikazu

JAEA started development of cryogenic structural material for Tokomak fusion reactor 30 years ago. Because, there was no specialized steel and mechanical data at 4K, JAEA settled target of mechanical characteristics which should satisfy requirements for coil structure at 4K and equipped evaluation facilities at 4K such as tensile test, fatigue test and so on. On the other hand JAEA initiated collaboration with steel industries in order to realize new cryogenic structural material and carried out mechanical evaluation at 4K on numerous samples which were supplied from industries. JAEA contributed standardization of these testing methods at 4K specified in the Japanese industrial standards (JIS). JAEA also supported to establish a construction code for structure of superconducting coil for fusion facility at the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineer (JSME), which is used in manufacture of the ITER toroidal field coil. This paper describes history over 30 years on the material development.