ATF CLADDING JOINT R&D PROJECTS POLAND AND KOREA – Prof. Jacek Jagielski

ATF CLADDING is a three-year Polish–Korean research project coordinated by Prof. Jacek Jagielski from NCBJ and Prof. Seung-Kyun Kang from Seoul National University. The Korean consortium also includes the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and DAEKYUNG TECH & TESTERS. The total project budget exceeds PLN 7 million, including more than PLN 4 million allocated to NCBJ. The project focuses on the development and assessment of Accident Tolerant Fuel claddings for safer nuclear reactors. It investigates zirconium-alloy fuel claddings protected with chromium- and chromium-aluminium-based coatings. These protective layers are intended to reduce zirconium oxidation and hydrogen generation under high-temperature accident conditions, particularly during loss-of-coolant accidents. The research covers the structural, mechanical and thermal characterisation of the coated claddings, including their stability and resistance to degradation at elevated temperatures. An important part of the project is also the development and validation of continuous nanoindentation methods for determining the mechanical properties of extremely thin protective layers while minimising the influence of the underlying substrate. The results will support the qualification of advanced fuel cladding materials and contribute to improving the safety margins of nuclear fuel technologies.



This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 857470 and from European Regional Development Fund
via Foundation for Polish Science International Research Agenda PLUS programme grant
No MAB PLUS/2018/8.
Poland
The project is co-financed from the state budget within the framework of the undertaking of the Minister of Science and Higher Education "Support for the activities of Centers of Excellence established under Horizon 2020".

Grant: 5 143 237,70 EUR
Total value: 29 971 365,00 EUR
Date of signing the funding agreement: December 2023

The purpose of the undertaking is to support entities of the higher education and science system that have received funding from the European Union budget in the competition H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020/WIDESPREAD-01-2018-2019: Teaming Phase 2. in the preparation, implementation and updating of activities, maintenance of material resources necessary for carrying out activities, acquisition and modernization of scientific and research apparatus, maintenance and development of personnel potential necessary for the implementation of activities, and dissemination of the results of scientific activities.