我国科研人员实现“人造太阳”关键核心材料制备

Core Insights - The research team at the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully achieved industrial-scale production of high-purity ton-level Hastelloy alloy using self-developed purification technology, which is crucial for the production of second-generation high-temperature superconducting tapes [1][3] - The second-generation high-temperature superconducting tapes are essential for creating powerful magnetic fields necessary for controlled nuclear fusion, and the production of these tapes has previously relied on imported Hastelloy alloys, which are expensive and have uncertain supply times [1] - The newly developed Hastelloy alloy has purity levels that meet or exceed those of imported materials, addressing the supply chain issues faced by the industry [1] Production and Technical Achievements - The research team has overcome key technical challenges in processing, successfully rolling the Hastelloy alloy into ultra-thin metal substrates with a thickness of only 0.046 mm, a width of 12 mm, and a length exceeding 2000 meters, achieving a surface roughness of less than 20 nanometers [3] - The metal substrates produced have excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties, and validation work has been conducted with relevant enterprises, leading to the successful large-scale production of nearly one kilometer of high-temperature superconducting tapes [3] - A framework cooperation agreement has been established with relevant enterprises for the supply of 20 tons of metal substrates, with plans for further collaboration to optimize the production process [3]