China deploys breakthrough super steel to build nuclear fusion plant

China has developed a breakthrough alloy called CHSN01 (China high-strength low-temperature steel No 1) specifically engineered for the extreme conditions inside nuclear fusion reactors. This steel can withstand intense magnetic fields up to 20 Tesla and pressures of 1,300 MPa at cryogenic temperatures, addressing a longstanding challenge in fusion technology materials. After more than a decade of research and development—including key improvements in alloy composition and toughness—CHSN01 was successfully integrated into the construction of China’s BEST fusion reactor, which began assembly in 2023 and aims for completion by 2027. China’s fusion ambitions surpass those of international projects like ITER, which is designed primarily for research and operates at lower magnetic field strengths (up to 11.8 Tesla). Chinese scientists, led by researchers such as Li Laifeng and supported by renowned physicist Zhao Zhongxian, set stringent material standards in 2021 to enable stronger, more durable reactor components. The development of CHSN01 involved a national