Powder Metallurgy Breaks Through "Bottleneck" Technologies丨Tiangong International and SWIP Co-write a New Chapter in Domesticating High-end Fusion Materials

Powder Metallurgy Breaks Through "Bottleneck" Technologies丨Tiangong International and SWIP Co-write a New Chapter in Domesticating High-end Fusion Materials

On October 10th, Liao Jun, Chief Technology Officer of Tiangong International, led a technical team to visit the Southwestern Institute of Physics (SWIP). The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the research, development, and cooperation of structural materials for nuclear fusion. Professor Wang Jianbao, Director of the Material Research Department at SWIP, along with other department leaders and R&D team members, warmly received the delegation.

Since its establishment in 1965, SWIP has been dedicated to research on controlled nuclear fusion and plasma physics. It serves as a core institution for the development of fusion reactors under China’s "Three-Step" nuclear energy strategy and plays a critical role in supporting China’s participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program.

During the visit, Dr. Yu Yang, Chief Scientist of Tiangong International, was invited to deliver an academic presentation. The session was chaired by Professor Wang Jianbao, with over thirty experts in attendance, including Researcher Professor Liu Xiang, Deputy Director of the Material Research Department Professor Lian Youyun, and Professor Song Jiupeng from Xihua University. Dr. Yu Yang’s presentation, titled "Technological Development and Industrialization of Powder Metallurgy High-Alloy Steel," systematically introduced the technical features and advantages of Tiangong’s powder metallurgy industry. He also shared the company’s latest progress in the R&D of structural materials for nuclear fusion. Dr. Yu pointed out that, leveraging its independently developed powder metallurgy technology, Tiangong International has achieved significant breakthroughs in key indicators such as high purity, high homogeneity, and high toughness. These advancements can effectively address the performance limitations of traditional materials under the extreme operating conditions of nuclear fusion, breaking the long-term foreign monopoly on such materials and realizing import substitution.

During the meeting, the R&D teams from both sides engaged in thorough discussions on the current state of technological development, R&D bottlenecks, and future requirements for nuclear fusion structural materials. A consensus was reached: Tiangong International’s advanced powder metallurgy technology will serve as a key solution to overcoming the "bottleneck" challenges in nuclear fusion materials. The two parties will strengthen joint technological research and continue to advance the domestication and complete import substitution of nuclear fusion structural materials. They will also establish a long-term cooperation mechanism to promote the high-quality development of China’s nuclear fusion industry.

To further align R&D directions with practical needs, both sides have scheduled a follow-up visit by SWIP to Tiangong International in the near future, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration. Tiangong International will continue to leverage its independent innovation and industrial capabilities, partnering with key national research institutes to focus on cutting-edge fields such as nuclear fusion, aerospace, and healthcare. The company aims to drive the transformation of high-end critical materials from "following" to "leading," contributing "Tiangong’s strength" to the development of China’s high-end energy sector.