CASE STUDY: Goodfellow Materials Power Historic Fusion Ignition Breakthrough at LLNL
On December 5, 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California achieved a monumental milestone: fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This historic demonstration marked the first time a laboratory experiment produced more energy from a fusion reaction than the energy used to initiate it: a condition known as ignition.
Goodfellow Ltd. is proud to have provided critical, specialized materials that contributed to this groundbreaking achievement, helping to overcome one of the major barriers to producing clean energy.
The NIF experiment involved firing the facility’s 192 powerful lasers onto a BB-sized target of deuterium and tritium (DT), heavier isotopes of hydrogen. By delivering 2.05 megajoules (MJ) of laser energy, LLNL scientists achieved a fusion energy output of 3.15 MJ, demonstrating a net energy gain. This peer-reviewed and externally verified result confirms the fundamental principles of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), marking a transformative breakthrough for fusion energy and a critical step toward the pursuit of limitless, clean power.
“Simply put, this is one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st century.” (U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm)
“This is the breakthrough everybody has been waiting for, and it is exciting to have played a small, but critical part in supporting them on their journey to this discovery.” (Dr. Aphrodite Tomou, Goodfellow’s Head of Technical)
The LLNL historic experiment achieved the first instance of scientific breakeven controlled fusion, with an energy gain factor of 1.5.
Materials Used in Fusion Research
Goodfellow Cambridge provides a comprehensive selection of advanced materials designed specifically for fusion research applications. Our materials meet the highest standards for durability, stability, and performance in extreme environments. Additionally, we offer custom manufacturing and material production services—if our standard product range doesn’t meet your needs, please contact us to discuss tailored solutions.
Metals with High Hydrogen Permeability for Fusion Research Applications
In fusion research, metals with high hydrogen permeability play critical roles in processes like hydrogen separation and tritium recovery. Goodfellow can support the following key metals and their alloys for optimizing hydrogen and tritium management in fusion reactors. Their selection depends on specific application requirements, including permeability, strength, selectivity for hydrogen and resistance to embrittlement.
Palladium (Pd) and Palladium Alloys
- Palladium-silver (Pd-Ag) alloys
- Palladium-copper (Pd-Cu) alloys
Vanadium (V) and Vanadium Alloys
- Vanadium-titanium (V-Ti) alloy
- Vanadium-titanium-nickel (V-Ti-Ni) alloy
Tungsten (W) and Tungsten Alloys
- Pure tungsten
- Tungsten-vanadium alloys
Nickel (Ni) and Nickel Alloys
- Nickel-cobalt (Ni-Co) alloys
- Nickel-molybdenum (Ni-Mo) alloys
Iron-Chromium-Aluminum (Fe-Cr-Al) Alloys
Zirconium (Zr) and Zirconium Alloys
- Zircaloy
- Zr-Ni alloy
Tantalum (Ta)
Pure Tantalum
Other Key Materials for Fusion Applications
Other key materials for fusion research available from Goodfellow include:
- Berryllium (Be)
- Ceramics (e.g. alumina, zirconia)
- Copper (Cu)
- Molybdenium (Mo)
- Niobium (Nb)
Working as your experienced partner in the nuclear fusion sector, we can find and supply the highest quality materials for your products. Our nuclear energy applications and innovative alloys can help you achieve unparalleled performance and better energy efficiency in building and plant design.
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