D. Buckthorpe, P. Sherlock (Sp), NNC Ltd., Knutsford (UK) 
 
The development of new material technologies and material combinations is important for both ITER and for future fusion plant.

For ITER Blanket modules with separable panels will cover the Primary First Wall (PFW). The PFW panels comprise a bi-metallic copper alloy / stainless steel 316L water-cooled heatsink faced with a plasma facing material. CuCrZr and beryllium tiles are respective options for the copper alloy and plasma facing material.

As the build of ITER approaches the development of the PFW panels is progressing with the production of part and full-scale prototype components. These are needed to prove the performance of the heatsink and tile bonding technologies. The technologies include the use of solid and powder HIP. As part of the manufacturing process a number of design aspects must be accommodated. These include the desire to have thick tiles to accommodate wear, due to normal operation and expected plasma disruption events, the accommodation of the heat treatment requirements for CuCrZr and the need to remain intact for the expected number of cycles. These aspects place a high requirement on the integrity of the HIP bonds formed.

For future materials development some work is underway within NNC to explore material needs for fusion plant applications (such as DEMO) and as part of the European Commission 6th Framework programme Extremat to look at the potential for the development of new materials and compounds for first wall and other applications.

This paper reviews the manufacture the PFW components within NNC and associated development activities and the ongoing work on new materials. The performance requirements for the ITER first wall are identified. Prototype components produced to date by NNC and others are then reviewed to compare assess their performance against these requirements and future materials needs are outlined.