High Strength, High Conductivity, Low Activation Copper Matrix Nanocomposite for Fusion Reactor First Wall Application

50408-98-I High Strength, High Conductivity, Low Activation Copper Matrix Nanocomposite for Fusion Reactor First Wall Application--Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545-3301; (508) 842-0174 Mr. Charles Renaud, Principal Investigator Ms. Elaine Drew, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82675 Amount: $74,984 Containment walls in fusion reactors are subjected to intense radiation fields and severely abnormal conditions. First wall materials require good mechanical properties including tensile strength and ductility, low temperature fracture toughness, and good fatigue properties. High strength, high conductivity radiation resistant copper alloys are being sought for such structures. This project will develop a copper-vanadium nanocomposite, consisting of a network of ultrafine, discontinuous vanadium filaments reinforcing a copper matrix, for this application. The composite would exhibit high strength and high electrical and thermal conductivity. The vanadium produces no long-lived radionuclides, is resistant to radiation induced swelling, and possesses desirable neutronic properties. The composite will be fabricated into thin gauge sheet and strip and will be evaluated for its commercial scale-up potential and suitability for application in fusion reactors. The material will be monitored metallographically throughout its deformation and evaluated by measuring the mechanical and transport properties. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This work should result in CuV nanocomposite wire, sheet, and plate material for use in very high stress environments, especially those environments that include intense radiation fields. Commercial applications include pulsed field magnets, high field dc magnets, rotating electrical machinery, and electrical springs and contacts._