COPPER INFILTRATED GRAPHITE FOR IMPROVED BRAZED JOINTS

THE FIRST WALL STRUCTURES FOR FUTURE FUSION REACTORS ARE LIKELY TO CONSIST OF GRAPHITE OR CARBON/CARBON COMPOSITE BRAZED TO AN ACTIVELY COOLED METAL SUBSTRATE. THIS PROJECT INVOLVES A TECHNIQUE FOR VACUUM INFILTRATING ONE SIDE OF THEGRAPHITE WITH MOLTEN COPPER. SUCH INFILTRATED MATERIALS SHOULD BE MORE EASILY BRAZED THAN GRAPHITE OR CARBON/CARBON COMPOSITES. THE RESULTING JOINTS ALSO SHOULD HAVE IMPROVED MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES. GRAPHITE MATERIALS WILL BE PARTIALLY INFILTRATED WITH A COMBINATION OF MATERIALS THAT CAN BE WET BY MOLTEN COPPER. VACUUM INFILTRATION OF THE COATED GRAPHITE WILL THEN BE CONDUCTED, AFTER WHICH THE SAMPLES WILL BE BRAZED TO METAL SUBSTRATES. TENSILE AND SHEAR STRENGTH WILL BE MEASURED AFTER THERMAL CYCLING. RESPONSE OF THE SAMPLES TO HIGH HEAT FLUX ALSO WILL BE DETERMINED.