The 2026 Asian Nuclear Power Plant Chemistry, Corrosion and Materials Reliability International Symposium (ACC 2026) was held in Shenyang from October 13 to 15. The event was hosted by the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMR, CAS), with Academician HAN Enhou and Prof. WU Xinqiang serving as co-chairs.

The symposium focused on nuclear reactor coolant chemistry, equipment material corrosion and reliability. It brought together more than 100 experts, scholars and engineers from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden and China to discuss service-induced material degradation, plant operating experience, recent research advances and future trends. Invited keynote speakers included Academician HAN Enhou of South China University of Technology, Dr. Jei-Won Yeon of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Mr. Taiki Watari of Tokyo Electric Power Company, Prof. LONG Bin of the China Institute of Atomic Energy and Prof. ZHOU Haishan of the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Reflecting current needs in nuclear energy development, the symposium featured four thematic sessions: small and micro modular reactors and advanced reactor technologies; pressurized water reactor materials and reliability; nuclear power plant operating experience, coolant chemistry and fuel service behavior; and nuclear power plant decontamination technologies and fundamental theories. Participants from leading nuclear institutions, enterprises, universities and research institutes exchanged views on equipment material service safety, damage prevention and control, coolant optimization and simulation.

As a major academic platform in the field of nuclear power plant chemistry and materials reliability in Asia, ACC 2026 provided a full-chain channel for exchange among nuclear power design, safety review, equipment manufacturing, engineering operation and research. The symposium promoted the upgrading of technologies for coolant chemistry, nuclear equipment material development and fabrication, and service safety evaluation in the Asian region. It also helped improve China’s technical level in nuclear reactor chemistry management, equipment aging control and life prediction. The nuclear materials corrosion team at IMR, CAS, which has long been engaged in research on the environmental compatibility of key reactor materials, provided solid support for the preparation and successful hosting of ACC 2026.