History, present status and future of fusion reactor materials research in the EC and other European countries

The fusion materials programme in the EC commenced in the late seventies. To-day, a substantial part is dedicated to the preparation of a database for NET. These activities have produced a series of interesting results on structural materials for the first wall, the divertor and on protection materials in the temperature and neutron fluence range typical for NET. Other activities concern high heat flux phenomena and R and D on materials to be used in blanket test modules of NET or to be developed for long term applications as tritium breeding materials, ceramic insulators, materials for high neutron fluences and low activation materials. (orig.)