The technological objective of the ExtreMat project is to develop new materials and the corresponding crosscutting processing technologies and to demonstrate the component fabrication from these materials. Research comprises:

• ultra-low erosion protection materialswith integrated barrier functions;
• new heat sink materials;
• nano-composited refractory metals as radiation resistant high temperature materials;
• design, engineering and production of multi-functional compounds and components from these materials for new or enhanced operational regimes.
  
  

The new materials shall

• operate in chemico-physically aggressive environment (atomic oxygen, hydrogen) up to 2000°C with near zero erosion and controlled behaviour under off-normal conditions (self-passivating protection materials);
• remove heat fluxes of the 20 MW/m2 level, partially at temperatures of up to 1000°C, and have tailored architecture and CTE (new heat sink materials);
• be resistant against very intense irradiation (150 dpa level) and be environmentally benign in terms of low radioactivation;
• be processed into knowledge-based, industrially applicable compounds and components with added functionality, e.g. barrier functions, and very long lifetime.
  

The resulting radical multi-sectorial innovations will span

• efficiency and lifetime enhancement of energy generation systems
• safe and reusable space components (protection, thrusters)
• compact 3-d multi-chip devices with optimum thermal management
• long lifetime, low-waste components in new neutron-based systems, e.g. spallation, ADS, VHTRs
• the harnessing of fusion as inexhaustible energy source
• spin-offs to other sectors and applications, like new brake systems, furnaces, chemical processes etc.
  
  
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