GRAPHITE REINFORCED COPPER ALLOYS FOR FUSION REACTOR APPLICATIONS

THE FIRST WALL STRUCTURE OF FUSION REACTORS WILL BE EXPOSED TO HOT PLASMAS AND HIGH HEAT FLUXES. THIS RESEARCH WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING BIDIRECTIONAL GRAPHITE REINFORCEMENT IN COPPER ALLOYS TO PROVIDE A TRANSITION BETWEEN CERAMIC ARMOR (WHICH PROVIDES RESISTANCE TO THE PLASMA ENVIRONMENT) AND A COPPER CONTAINMENT VESSEL WHERE THE HEAT OF REACTION IS EXTRACTED. AFTER REVIEWING THE CURRENT LITERATURE ON COPPER-BASED METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES, GRAPHITE-REINFORCED COPPER WILL BE PRODUCED. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES WILL BE TESTED AS A FUNCTION OF THERMAL CYCLING.