The 2008 work programme of the European research project on nano-structured oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) reduced activation ferritic (RAF) steels is being organized along the four following programmatic lines: (1) improve the present generation of nanostructured ODS RAF steels; (2) start the industrial fabrication of the present generation of nano-structured ODS RAF steels; (3) develop an optimised generation of nano-structured and nano-grained ODS RAF steels; (4) investigate the stability of present and optimised generation of nano-structured ODS RAF steels under creep and irradiation. This paper presents the main objectives of current R&D activities being performed within the European research project on nano-structured ODS RAF steels, the main obtained results and the main future activ-ities in the case of the four programmatic lines mentioned just above.

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As the upper temperature for use of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels is presently limited by a drop in mechanical strength at about 550 °C, Europe, Japan and the US are actively researching steels with high strength at higher operating temperatures, mainly using stable oxide dispersion. In addition, the numerous interfaces between matrix and oxide particles are expected to act as sinks for the irradiation-induced defects. The main R&D activities aim at finding a compromise between good tensile and creep strength and sufficient ductility, especially in terms of fracture toughness. Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) reduced activation ferritic (RAF) steels appear as promising materials for application in fusion power reactors up to about 750 °C. Six different ODS RAF steels, with compositions of Fe–(12–14)Cr–2W–(0.1–0.3-0.5)Ti–0.3Y2O3 (in wt%), were produced by powder metallurgy techniques, including mechanical alloying, canning and degassing of the milled powders and compaction of the powders by hot isostatic pressing, using various devices and conditions. The materials have been characterized in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties. The results have been analysed in terms of optimal chemical composition and manufacturing conditions. In particular, it was found that the composition of the materials should lie in the range Fe–14Cr–2W–(0.3–0.4)Ti–(0.25–0.3)Y2O3, as 14Cr ODS RAF steels exhibit higher tensile strength and better Charpy impact properties and are more stable than 12Cr materials (no risk of martensitic transformation), while materials with 0.5% Ti or more should not be further investigated, due to potential embrittlement by large TiO2 particles.

In this article, polylactic acid-based composites reinforced with 5% of polyethylene, iron, and magnesium powders were prepared by extrusion and compressed under the pressure of about 10 MPa and characterized. These composites were mechanically, thermally, and morphologically evaluated. It was found, compared to the pure polylactic acid (PLA), an improvement in tensile strength (both σ and YS0.2) was obtained for the composite with the iron powder addition, while the magnesium powder slightly improved the ductility of the composite material (from 2.0 to 2.5%). Degradation studies of these composites in the 0.9% saline solution over a period of 180 days revealed changes in the pH of the solution from acidic to alkaline, in all samples. The most varied mass loss was observed in the case of the PLA-5%Mg sample, where initially the sample mass increased (first 30 days) then decreased, and after 120 days, the mass increased again. In the context of degradation phenomenon of the tested materials, it turns out that the most stable is the PLA composite with the Fe addition (PLA-5%Fe), with highest tensile strength and hardness.