Home → About the MAI

About the MAI

The key purpose of the MAI is to direct efforts in research and development towards ageing of materials used in electrical power facilities. This initiative by the world’s biggest nuclear operators is motivated by the conviction that sharing research, experimental results, feedback and scientific information will significantly contribute to our understanding of the ageing processes in various materials employed in both nuclear and non-nuclear power plants. The combination of operational know-how, experimental knowledge, and computer modelling of coupled processes can then be used to anticipate ageing and henceforth increase the durability of materials, components and structures. The institute is led by the French nuclear giant EDF, which upfront has heavily invested in equipment, computer power, but also in the construction of the MAI building on the EDF research site “Les Renardières”, southeast of Paris. PDF documentation.

MAI Brochure  MAI-ESEM
Download the brochure.

Click here to download a PDF file with complete information about the MAI but currently outdated (2011 update will follow soon).

Members and Partners

  • MAI Full Members
    The institute operates as a consortium of members which provide human and financial resources to run the institute. Members are typically companies owning and/or operating energy generation facilities or organizations officially representing such companies. More...
  • MAI Associate Members
    An Associate Membership is a practical option for nuclear industrial partners which are not utilities. While Full Members participate, by default, to the entire MAI program including all R&D projects, Associate Members join the MAI for the limited life of one ore several projects. More...
  • MAI Associate Laboratories
    The MAI has many in-house facilities needed for material ageing issues, but cannot handle irradiated or contaminated materials. Designation of Associate Laboratories allows the MAI to extend its experimental capabilities especially with respect to radioactive materials. More...
  • MAI Scientific Partners
    Part of the MAI research is carried out by Scientific Partners, a network of academic experts in the nuclear material science. This network helps in bringing forward new approaches and ideas and in keeping up-to-date with respect to the latest scientific developments. More...
Document Actions