Refractory High-Entropy Alloys (RHEAs) are promising candidates for structural materials in nuclear fusion reactors, where W-based alloys are currently leading. Fusion materials must withstand extreme conditions, including i) severe radiation damage from energetic neutrons, ii) embrittlement due to H and He ion implantation, and iii) exposure to high temperatures and thermal gradients. Recent RHEAs, such as WTaCrV and WTaCrVHf, have shown superior radiation tolerance and microstructural stability compared to pure W, but their multi-element compositions complicate bulk fabrication and limit practical use. In this study, it is demonstrated that reducing alloying elements in RHEAs is feasible without compromising radiation tolerance. Herein, two Highly Concentrated Refractory Alloys (HCRAs) - W53Ta44V3 and W53Ta42V5 (at.%) - were synthesized and investigated. We found that small V additions significantly influence the radiation response of the binary W–Ta system. Experimental results, supported by ab-initio Monte Carlo simulations and machine-learning-driven molecular dynamics, reveal that minor variations in V content enhance Ta–V chemical short-range order (CSRO), improving radiation resistance in the W53Ta42V5 HCRA. By focusing on reducing chemical complexity and the number of alloying elements, the conventional high-entropy alloy paradigm is challenged, suggesting a new approach to designing simplified multi-component alloys with refractory properties for thermonuclear fusion applications.
Tunes, Matheus A., et al. "High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W-Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials." Advanced Science, vol. 12, no. 20, Mar. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417659
Tunes, Matheus A., Parkison, Darren, Sun, Bochuan, Willenshofer, Patrick, Samberger, Sebastian, Frühwirth, Christoph, Tripathi, Shalini, Derby, Benjamin K., Baldwin, Jon Kevin S., Fensin, Saryu J., Sobieraj, Damian, Wróbel, Jan S., Byggmästar, Jesper, Pogatscher, Stefan, Martinez, Enrique, Nguyen‐Manh, Duc, & El‐Atwani, Osman (2025). High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W-Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials. Advanced Science, 12(20). https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417659
Tunes, Matheus A., Parkison, Darren, Sun, Bochuan, et al., "High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W-Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials," Advanced Science 12, no. 20 (2025), https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417659
@article{osti_2529504,
author = {Tunes, Matheus A. and Parkison, Darren and Sun, Bochuan and Willenshofer, Patrick and Samberger, Sebastian and Frühwirth, Christoph and Tripathi, Shalini and Derby, Benjamin K. and Baldwin, Jon Kevin S. and Fensin, Saryu J. and others},
title = {High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W-Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials},
annote = {Refractory High-Entropy Alloys (RHEAs) are promising candidates for structural materials in nuclear fusion reactors, where W-based alloys are currently leading. Fusion materials must withstand extreme conditions, including i) severe radiation damage from energetic neutrons, ii) embrittlement due to H and He ion implantation, and iii) exposure to high temperatures and thermal gradients. Recent RHEAs, such as WTaCrV and WTaCrVHf, have shown superior radiation tolerance and microstructural stability compared to pure W, but their multi-element compositions complicate bulk fabrication and limit practical use. In this study, it is demonstrated that reducing alloying elements in RHEAs is feasible without compromising radiation tolerance. Herein, two Highly Concentrated Refractory Alloys (HCRAs) - W53Ta44V3 and W53Ta42V5 (at.%) - were synthesized and investigated. We found that small V additions significantly influence the radiation response of the binary W–Ta system. Experimental results, supported by ab-initio Monte Carlo simulations and machine-learning-driven molecular dynamics, reveal that minor variations in V content enhance Ta–V chemical short-range order (CSRO), improving radiation resistance in the W53Ta42V5 HCRA. By focusing on reducing chemical complexity and the number of alloying elements, the conventional high-entropy alloy paradigm is challenged, suggesting a new approach to designing simplified multi-component alloys with refractory properties for thermonuclear fusion applications.},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202417659},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2529504},
journal = {Advanced Science},
issn = {ISSN 2198-3844},
number = {20},
volume = {12},
place = {United States},
publisher = {Wiley},
year = {2025},
month = {03}}
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); European Union (EU); Research Council of Finland; USDOE; USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
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