FMR, Fuels and Materials Research (ActUsLab)

The Fuels and Materials Research (FMR) laboratory is situated at the Joint Research Centre of Karlsruhe (Germany). The Nuclear Fuel Safety Unit provides the scientific basis for the objective assessment and modelling of the safety related behaviour of nuclear materials, with emphasis on nuclear fuels, under normal and off-normal operating conditions, serving European and international authorities as well as academic and research organisations. The main activities covered by the FMR laboratory involve the synthesis and characterisation of actinide-containing materials (including plutonium and minor actinides). Standard and advanced techniques for sample synthesis, materials characterization and property determination are employed. These include sol-gel precipitation, powder blending and pressing, conventional or spark plasma sintering, encapsulation techniques, X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and infra-red), electron microscopy (scanning and transmission) and focused ion beam, drop and differential scanning calorimetry, Knudsen cell effusion mass spectrometry, electro-motive force analysis, dilatometry, indentation, laser flash methods for the measurement of thermal properties, laser melting, etc.

Priority topics of FMR

1. Synthesis and characterisation of actinide-containing materials relevant for the assessment of nuclear safety standards (oxides, ceramics…).
2. Safety characterisation of new forms of nuclear fuels, including molten salts.
3. Laboratory simulation of nuclear power plant severe accident conditions.
4. Advanced methods for the synthesis of nuclear material assemblies, for Generation IV nuclear power plants, including transmutation targets, or for space applications.
5. Exploratory research for the development of new scientific concepts, testing of new equipment or materials.

Definition and conditions of access

Access to the research infrastructure is granted on the basis of Access Units. For FMR, the Access Unit corresponds to a 'Measurement day' made available for the experimental activities.

Physical access to the laboratories is restricted to opening hours but, in certain conditions, automatic measurements can be performed when the laboratories are closed. The Users will have access to the JRC in-house equipment with the help of JRC staff. Employment of User's own equipment is not recommended in the JRC radioactive laboratories, because of the strict radiation protection rules in force at JRC Karlsruhe. If the use of own equipment is necessary, this has to be indicated and duly justified in the proposal and should be coordinated already a few weeks before the scheduled laboratory time. Users can only participate in experiments led in the FMR laboratory by in-house staff scientists or technicians.

All users will be requested to complete and deliver safety and security-related documents to get access to the radioactive hot laboratories. Approval of access is subject to the rules of the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre and the German authorities. Submission of documents should therefore be started in due time to allow completion of the approval procedure well before the start of the experiment.

• Estimated total number of Measurement Days allocated to the call: 75*
• Average number of Measurement Days per Project: 10-15
• Estimated costs excluding consumables and expenses:
  • Research infrastructure operated by JRC staff: 0€ / Day
  • Research infrastructure operated by users: Not possible

* A total of 150 Measurement Days will be allocated to the PAMEC and FMR laboratories

Allocation of intellectual property rights:

• The JRC and the entitled party (person or organisation that has been granted access) become co-owners in equal shares of all raw data, treated data and documentation data developed with respect to the access;
• or, if users run the research infrastructure.

Eligibility criteria

• The Lead User Institution and User Institutions (see definitions in the Framework) must be from an EU Member State, or country associated to the Euratom Research Programme (Switzerland and Ukraine).
• The Lead User Institution must be from a university, research or public institution, or from a Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME).
• Ethical considerations in accordance with EU Law, in particular Art. 19 of Regulation (EU) 1291/2013, and applicable laws and regulations in the EU Member States.
• The proposal submission form is complete and complies with the instructions.

Selection criteria

Any proposal will be scrutinised in accordance with weighted selection criteria such as:

• Scientific implementation
• Collaboration and access to new Users
• Strategic relevance to the JRC
• Strategic importance for Europe

How to apply

The proposal must be prepared by using the template given in Annex 3.1 of the Framework and its annexes

During preparation of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the "Framework of Access to Joint Research Centre physical Research Infrastructures" and its annexes.
• Contact the research infrastructure at JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHEec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) to assess feasibility aspects related to the capacity of the research infrastructure.

The proposal should be submitted to JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESSec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call.

Communication of the assessment of proposals:2019-11-28 00:00:00

Related Content

Selection Criteria Background Documents

The 6 Priorities of the European Commission

JRC Thematic Focus Areas