Report calls for net zero materials roadmap

Degradation of structural materials in sectors such as nuclear fission, wind energy and transport, is seen as presenting a serious threat to the UK’s 2050 net zero target.

The financial impact of corrosion globally - just one degradation mechanism - has been estimated at $2.5tn, or 3.4 per cent of the world’s GDP. Significant savings and societal benefits can be achieved through better understanding and effective management of the issue.

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In a recent report, the Manchester-based Henry Royce Institute identified key areas of concern, highlighting the need for investment over the coming years. The study identified three common cross-sector degradation mechanisms – corrosion, fatigue and creep – and highlighted the rising interactions between them which are largely the result of structural materials operating under increasingly challenging conditions such as higher temperatures and harsher environments.

According to Royce, a roadmap is required to prioritise materials technologies that can tackle these issues and boost the UK’s chances of hitting its 2050 net zero target, with funding linked to key dates when those technologies are expected to come online. Alongside high-level strategic direction of R&D efforts, the challenge will also require strong collaboration between government, industry and academia.