Materials research under ITER-like divertor conditions at FOM Rijnhuizen

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2011-10, Vol.417 (1-3), p.457-462
• Main Authors: Wright, G.M., Westerhout, J., Al, R.S., Alves, E., Alves, L.C., Barradas, N.P., van den Berg, M.A., Borodin, D., Brezinsek, S., Brons, S., van Eck, H.J.N., de Groot, B., Kleyn, A.W., Koppers, W.R., Kruijt, O.G., Linke, J., Lopes Cardozo, N.J., Mayer, M., van der Meiden, H.J., Prins, P.R., van Rooij, G.J., Scholten, J., Shumack, A.E., Smeets, P.H.M., De Temmerman, G., Vijvers, W.A.J., Rapp, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear fuels
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.12.209

At FOM Rijnhuizen, linear plasma generators are used to investigate plasma-material interactions under high-density (⩽1021m−3), low-temperature (⩽5eV) plasma bombardment. Research into carbon-based materials has been focused on chemical erosion by hydrogen plasmas. Results from plasma exposure to high-flux (>1023H+/m2s) and low-temperature hydrogen plasma indicate silicon carbide has a lower relative rate of gross erosion than other carbon-based materials (e.g. graphite, diamond, carbon-fiber composites) by a factor of 7–10. Hydrogenic retention is the focus of research on tungsten and molybdenum. For target temperatures of 700–1600K, the temperature dependence of hydrogenic retention is the dominant factor. Damage to the surface by heavy ion irradiation has shown to enhance retention by a factor of 2.5–4.1. Thermal stressing of W via. e-beam thermal cycling also enhances hydrogenic retention by a factor of 2.1±0.2, likely due to the introduction of thermal defects, which act as trapping sites for implanted hydrogenic isotopes.