From Signing to Successful Production in Just Over a Month: Tiangong International Accelerates the Development of Nuclear Fusion Materials
From Signing to Successful Production in Just Over a Month: Tiangong International Accelerates the Development of Nuclear Fusion Materials
On January 16, 2026, at the highly anticipated 2026 Nuclear Fusion Energy Technology and Industry Conference, Jiangsu Tiangong Aihe Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Tiangong Aihe," a subsidiary of Tiangong International) officially signed an agreement to become a core member of the "Joint Laboratory for the Research and Development of Advanced Metal Materials for Fusion." This platform, led by the national strategic scientific force, signifies that Tiangong Aihe has undertaken the critical task of developing key materials for the nation's major nuclear fusion projects.
With a mission at heart, every moment counts. Although the Spring Festival holiday soon followed the signing, the R&D team at Tiangong Aihe did not pause. Embracing a "start is sprint" work ethic, they transformed their holiday plans into a "task list" for overcoming challenges. In just over a month, they delivered a "New Year's answer sheet" full of substantial achievements.
Powder Metallurgy Process Achieves New Milestones, Product Performance Exceeds Standards
Leveraging the company's advantages in the complete industrial chain of powder metallurgy and hot isostatic pressing, the R&D team tackled the technical challenges associated with key materials for fusion reactors. Recently, the company successfully produced a 600kg-grade TPM304B7 plate using powder metallurgy technology.
To verify the material's reliability and stability, this batch of products simultaneously underwent rigorous internal company testing, stringent evaluations by the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center's Institute of Energy (affiliated with the Institute of Plasma Physics), and comprehensive mechanical property testing by a third-party CNAS-accredited authority.
The test results were encouraging: the data surpassed the technical standards of known foreign counterparts and the material specifications used in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). This indicates that Tiangong Aihe is now capable of providing next-generation fusion devices with core structural materials that offer superior performance and higher reliability, truly achieving a state of "everything is ready, all it needs is the opportunity."
Forging a "China Materials" Solution, Poised for the Dawn of the Industry
The rapid, high-quality, and successful production of TPM304B7 is not only a powerful testament to Tiangong Aihe's R&D capabilities but also a vivid demonstration of the efficient operation of the joint laboratory's closed-loop model—"demand-driven, R&D and manufacturing, verification and feedback."
Currently, Tiangong Aihe is fully equipped with the capability for customized R&D and production across the entire process, from raw material optimization and powder metallurgy forming to performance testing. Looking ahead, the company will continue to leverage the joint laboratory platform to accelerate the development of next-generation materials, including new neutron shielding steel with a boron equivalent greater than 3.2 wt%.
As global nuclear fusion technology rapidly transitions from scientific exploration to engineering and industrialization, Tiangong Aihe, with its solid technological reserves and verified product data, stands at the forefront of fusion material supply. Awaiting the dawn of the industry, it is poised to contribute a proven "China Materials Solution" to the future of clean energy in China and the world.