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Wissenschaft
Fraunhofer IWS and Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics Develop Innovative Barrier Coatings for Fusion Power Plants
(Dresden/Garching, 06/24/2025) Tritium fuels nuclear fusion and counts among the most valuable resources for this energy source. To prevent losses in future fusion power plants, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) jointly develop advanced barrier coatings. Their project, “TritiumStopp”, aims to create high-performance permeation barriers that withstand extreme conditions.
Fusion of hydrogen isotopes offers a promising path toward clean and secure energy. Tritium plays a central role as fuel. If it escapes from reactor walls or piping, operators risk losing irreplaceable reserves. The challenge: Tritium atoms slip through tightly packed metal structures due to their minimal size – a phenomenon known as permeation.
Industrial-grade Coating Systems
The “TritiumStopp” team focuses on thin coatings that block tritium from migrating through materials. Unlike earlier research approaches, Fraunhofer IWS applies coating technologies that already prove their worth in high-performance industrial settings—such as wear protection on heavily loaded tools. These coatings rely on physical vapor deposition processes and can be applied to fundamental reactor components using production-ready techniques.
“We examine various coating types – including metal nitrides, oxides, and diamond-like carbon – for their ability to prevent permeation,” explained Dr. Volker Weihnacht of Fraunhofer IWS. “We test them under conditions that mimic reactor environments: mechanical stress, thermal cycling, and irradiation by energetic particles.” The team aims to prove both immediate protection and long-term stability of the coatings.
Diagnostics and Testing Infrastructure
Complementing these tests, the researchers conduct detailed analyses. “We bring long-standing expertise in tracking how hydrogen isotopes diffuse into fusion materials,” said Dr. Armin Manhard from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Garching. At several permeation test stands, the team performs systematic studies backed by high-resolution ion beam diagnostics. “Our strength lies in combining various diagnostic methods under one roof.” This setup enables them to uncover material behavior and pinpoint the impact of individual process parameters.
In addition to scientific insights, the project delivers practical strategies for transferring the technology into future fusion systems. “From the outset, we consider how to scale up our results – through large-area coatings or integrated protection systems,” noted Dr. Weihnacht.
Project Partners
- Fraunhofer IWS, Dresden: develops advanced materials and technologies to handle tritium safely in fusion systems, including specialized surface coatings and barrier layers.
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics IPP, Garching: evaluates coating performance through permeation tests and introduces radiation damage via a tandem accelerator for analysis with ion beams.
Project Information
- Title: “TritiumStopp – Tritium Barriers for Fusion Applications Using Low-Permeation Coating Systems”
- Duration: 2025–2028
- Funding: Fraunhofer-Max Planck Cooperation Program
About the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP)
The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) investigates the scientific principles behind future fusion power plants that generate energy by fusing light atomic nuclei. It operates the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak experiment in Garching near Munich and the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Greifswald. IPP contributes to the European fusion consortium EUROfusion. With around 1,100 staff, the institute ranks among the largest fusion research centers in Europe.
More information: www.ipp.mpg.de
Dr. Volker Weihnacht
Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS
Phone +49 351 83391-3614
Winterbergstraße 28
DE-01277 Dresden
www.iws.fraunhofer.de
volker.weihnacht@iws.fraunhofer.de
https://www.iws.fraunhofer.de/de/newsundmedien/presseinformationen/2025/pressein...
Industrial-grade PVD technology developed by Fraunhofer IWS provides the basis for a new class of pe ...
Source: Daniel Viol
Copyright: © Daniel Viol/Fraunhofer IWS
TritiumStopp focuses on metallic components such as pipelines, where barrier coatings are expected t ...
Source: Daniel Viol
Copyright: © Daniel Viol/Fraunhofer IWS
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