Project description
Standing the heat: engineering next-generation refractory superalloys
Current nickel-based materials cannot operate reliably above 1200 °C, limiting the efficiency of modern engines and reactors. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RESIST project aims to pioneer next-generation refractory superalloys designed specifically for these extreme environments. By mimicking the successful structural architecture of nickel alloys using high-melting elements such as niobium and tungsten, the project is expected to create materials that remain strong and flexible under intense heat. Beyond basic design, RESIST will use advanced modelling and microscopy to ensure long-term stability while testing performance under mechanical stress and radiation. The project’s goal is to provide energy-efficient materials for aerospace and nuclear systems, significantly advancing global decarbonisation efforts and technological resilience.
Objective
The proposed MSCA action pioneers a state-of-the-art generation of BCC-based refractory superalloys (RSAs) engineered to operate reliably beyond 1200 °C, surpassing the limits of Ni-based superalloys. The central idea is a dual-phase architecture that integrates a ductile disordered BCC (A2) matrix reinforced with coherent (B2) precipitates, an approach inspired by the proven framework of Ni-superalloys, but is tailored for refractory chemistries incorporating Nb, Mo, W and Ta. This strategy combines the high melting points and sluggish diffusion kinetics of refractory elements with an architecture that ensures high-temperature strength, room-temperature ductility, and long-term phase stability. By addressing the key fundamental questions of how ductility can be retained and phases stabilized at extreme conditions, the project will deliver alloys with long-term structural integrity. The resulting breakthroughs will open a transformative pathway toward energy-efficient materials for aerospace, power generation, and nuclear systems, in line with global decarbonization targets and initiatives such as ULTIMATE.
The action is organized into four interlinked work packages (WPs) forming a closed-loop design-to-validation framework. WP1 applies thermodynamic and predictive modelling to identify and fabricate novel RSA chemistries. WP2 quantifies coarsening kinetics and microstructural stability using advanced microscopy and atom probe analysis. WP3 maps deformation across scales by coupling high-temperature tensile and creep tests with nanoindentation and microscopy. In conclusion, WP4 introduces a novel dimension by exposing RSAs to controlled irradiation environments to evaluate their viability for next-generation nuclear systems. Collectively, these efforts resolve critical challenges in alloy design, stability, mechanical properties, and irradiation tolerance, delivering a materials platform that enhances energy efficiency and resilience in next-generation technologies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.