Neural Networks to Help Create Super-Strong Materials for Russia’s Nuclear Industry

Russia’s nuclear sector is turning to artificial intelligence to design and synthesize next-generation materials. Neural networks are accelerating the process, cutting development time from years to months.

The nuclear industry urgently needs new materials capable of withstanding extreme loads and resisting uncontrolled reactions. Developing such compounds is a top priority, said Alexey Dub, first deputy director of the Science and Innovations institute, part of Rosatom.

According to Dub, the demand is immediate — materials for energy production are needed right now. To meet this challenge, researchers are using IT technologies and AI. Neural networks work alongside human experts, generating formulations for ultra-strong materials, controlling their synthesis, analyzing their properties, and refining the recipes.

The creation of new materials typically takes months, but the automated synthesis technology can now test up to ten unique compositions per day. This is an order of magnitude faster than traditional methods, marking a major leap forward for the industry.