Discovering tungsten-based composites as plasma facing materials for future high-duty cycle nuclear fusion reactors

Marchhart, Trevor; Hargrove, Chase; Marin, Alexandru; Schamis, Hanna; Saefan, Ashrakat; Lang, Eric; Wang, Xing; Allain, Jean Paul

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-64614-3

Title: Discovering tungsten-based composites as plasma facing materials for future high-duty cycle nuclear fusion reactors

Journal Article · 15 June 2024 · Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64614-3 · OSTI ID:2373209

Marchhart, Trevor ^[1]; Hargrove, Chase ^[1]; Marin, Alexandru ^[2]; Schamis, Hanna ^[1]; Saefan, Ashrakat ^[1]; Lang, Eric ^[3];

^[1]; Allain, Jean Paul ^[1]

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (United States)
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (United States); Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti, Mioveni (Romania)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States); University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Despite of excellent thermal properties and high sputtering resistance, pure tungsten cannot fully satisfy the requirements for plasma facing materials in future high-duty cycle nuclear fusion reactions due to the coupled extreme environments, including the high thermal loads, plasma exposure, and radiation damage. Here, we demonstrated that tungsten-based composite materials fabricated using spark-plasma sintering (SPS) present promising solutions to these challenges. Through the examination of two model systems, i.e., tungsten-zirconium composite for producing porous tungsten near the surface and dispersoid-strengthened tungsten, we discussed both the strengths and limitations of the SPS-fabricated materials. Our findings point towards the need for future studies aimed at optimizing the SPS process to achieve desired microstructures and effective control of oxygen impurities in the tungsten-based composite materials.

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Research Organization:: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States); Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States); Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FC02-04ER54698; SC0014267; SC0021005

OSTI ID:: 2373209

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2471881

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Vol. 14, Issue 1; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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