ORNL is the U.S. leader in developing materials for 21st
century, high-temperature nuclear plants that will produce power
and hydrogen. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has long been a
world leader in materials research, and now with the resurgence
of interest in nuclear energy, ORNL has a leading role in
developing and selecting materials for the next generation of
nuclear power plants. According to the vision of the U.S.
government for 2015 and beyond, these plants will produce
hydrogen as well as electricity, efficiently providing clean
energy for the next generation of cars, trucks, homes, and
factories. To achieve the vision, the Department of Energy has
called upon ORNL to help cross one huge hurdle: finding
materials that can withstand high temperatures, high radiation
levels, high pressures, and harsh chemical conditions. As the
National Technology Director for Materials for DOE's Generation
IV Reactor Program, ORNL's Bill Corwin understands the
challenge. DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Tech