Advanced Manufacturing of Nuclear Materials

The field of nuclear energy has long been a cornerstone of our efforts to produce clean and efficient power. To enhance the safety, sustainability, and performance of nuclear reactors, there is a growing need for advanced materials and manufacturing techniques. Additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, has emerged as a promising technology with the potential to revolutionize the processing of nuclear materials.

Recent studies have highlighted the potential of additive manufacturing to address key challenges in improving material properties and reducing production costs. However, despite these promising developments, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of how to fully integrate advanced manufacturing into the development of nuclear materials. Current research is focused on optimizing manufacturing processes and developing materials that can withstand harsh conditions, such as within nuclear reactors. Yet, there is a pressing need for further investigation into the long-term performance and safety implications of these advanced manufacturing techniques.

This Research Topic aims to investigate the utilization of advanced manufacturing techniques for nuclear materials. This includes exploring novel materials and alloys with improved radiation resistance, corrosion resistance, and thermal properties for use in nuclear reactors. As well as, optimizing 3D printing methods to fabricate complex nuclear components with precision, ensuring structural integrity and performance. This Research Topic seeks to highlight the unique capabilities of additive manufacturing for revolutionizing the development of nuclear materials.

To gather further insights into the application of advanced manufacturing in nuclear materials development, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Exploration of novel materials and alloys for use in nuclear reactors
• Optimization of 3D printing methods for nuclear components
• Strategies for improved safety and reliability in nuclear systems by leveraging the unique capabilities of additive manufacturing, such as rapid prototyping and customization
• Approaches to reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs in nuclear facilities
• Studies involving practical applications and testing of advanced manufacturing in nuclear contexts
• Theoretical and computational analyses to support experimental findings.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, nuclear materials, nuclear engineering, safety enhancement, cost reduction, 3D printing

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.