Erosion of a TiAl intermetallic alloy under conditions simulating plasma disruptions

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2009-04, Vol.386, p.793-796
• Main Authors: Kalin, B.A., Yakushin, V.L., Polsky, V.I., Dzhumaev, P.S., Fedotov, V.T., Sevryukov, O.N., Golikov, M.Yu, Zolotarev, M.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.12.276

Radiation erosion and thermal stability of TiAl-based intermetallic alloys produced by vacuum-arc melting, compacting of microcrystal powders with binder and impregnantion by melt, and their brazed joints with bronze have been investigated under irradiation by high-temperature pulsed hydrogen plasma flows (the flow energy density Q = 0.2−0.9 MJ/m 2, the pulse duration 15 μs, the number of pulses 1–21) which simulate the expected plasma disruptions in a fusion reactor. It has been found that the erosion coefficients and thermal stability of alloys are determined by the way of their fabrication, and compacted intermetallides have a higher thermal stability in comparison with the cast ones. The brazed joints of the intermetallic compound with bronze under irradiation by pulsed hydrogen plasma up to the energy density Q = 0.75 MJ/m 2 have a high thermal stability and formation of cracks was not observed.