Development of polyvinyl alcohol shells overcoated with polystyrene layer for inertial confinement fusion experiments

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.574740· OSTI ID:6488343

Kubo, U; Tsubakihara, H

In inertial fusion experiments, the use of polymer shells provides more efficient ablative implosion and significantly reduced radiation preheat compared with the glass shells currently used. We have developed a method of fabricating polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) shells overcoated with a polystyrene (PS) layer. The method utilizes the emulsion technique previously developed by us, and employs three different liquid phases. A 5 wt. % aqueous PVA solution is mixed with a 7 wt. % PS solution in dichloromethane while stirring. The mixture is then poured into a 1 wt. % PS solution in cidhloromethane while stirring. The mixture is then poured into a 1 wt. % aqueous gelatin solution. The resulting emulsion is heated to evaporate the dichloromethane, resulting in solid PS shells encapsulating the PVA solution. The PS shells are subsequently washed and dried in vacuum to drive off the remaining water. As a result, a PVA shell is formed inside an overcoating PS shell which exhibits a good surface quality in the outer diameter and wall thickness regime currently desired by inertial confinement fusion experimenters.

• Research Organization: Faculty of Science and Technology, Kinki University, Higashiosaka, Osaka 577, Japan
• OSTI ID: 6488343
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Vol. 5:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
MICROSPHERES
FABRICATION
MATERIALS
POLYSTYRENE
COATINGS
POLYVINYLS
SURFACE COATING
ABLATION
IMPLOSIONS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER TARGETS
POLYMERS
SHELLS
CONFINEMENT
DEPOSITION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASTICS
POLYOLEFINS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TARGETS
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology
700209 - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Component Development & Materials Testing