Strategic research on materials

Strategic research is defined as that which is necessary to support not only an understanding of the phenomenon on which a new technology is based, but also the raft of other technologies needed to exploit the new phenomenon. The theme is illustrated by reference to the development of ceramics of importance to the nuclear industry and in particularly with relation to the AGR. Starting from natural uranium, the underlying and wide ranging research effort devoted to the technology of isotopic enrichment, the investigation of the uranium-oxygen binary system, fabrication of uranium dioxide fuel, interactions between the fuel and stainless steel cans, between the cans and CO2 coolant and between the coolant and graphite moderator, is outlined. The role of ceramics in stable radioactive waste containment is also briefly mentioned. (author)