Baseline high heat flux and plasma facing materials for fusion

TLDR

Fusion reactors expose plasma‑facing component surfaces to intense heat and particle flux, and tungsten and copper alloys are favored PFMs and coolant materials because of their high thermal conductivity and, for tungsten, its high melting point. The paper reviews recent understandings and future issues regarding tungsten and copper alloy responses to fusion environments, including high particle flux, high heat flux, and neutron irradiation. The review synthesizes studies on tritium retention, heat‑load impacts, helium‑induced surface morphology, neutron radiation effects in tungsten, and copper alloy development for high‑heat‑flux components.

Abstract

In fusion reactors, surfaces of plasma facing components (PFCs) are exposed to high heat and particle flux. Tungsten and Copper alloys are primary candidates for plasma facing materials (PFMs) and coolant tube materials, respectively, mainly due to high thermal conductivity and, in the case of tungsten, its high melting point. In this paper, recent understandings and future issues on responses of tungsten and Cu alloys to fusion environments (high particle flux (including T and He), high heat flux, and high neutron doses) are reviewed. This review paper includes; Tritium retention in tungsten (K. Schmid and M. Balden), Impact of stationary and transient heat loads on tungsten (J.W. Coenen and Th. Loewenhoff), Helium effects on surface morphology of tungsten (Y. Ueda and A. Ito), Neutron radiation effects in tungsten (A. Hasegawa), and Copper and copper alloys development for high heat flux components (C. Hardie, M. Porton, and M. Gilbert).