Boron-Tungsten Mesh Plasma Facing Components

Tokamak fusion reactors will use plasma facing components made of tungsten because of its excellent physical sputtering characteristics and high temperature capabilities. Boron is also used as a plasma facing material in most tokamaks because of its outstanding plasma-conditioning properties. Both the high temperature capabilities of tungsten and the impurity gettering capabilities of boron are needed for high-performance plasma operation. This project will develop a process to fabricate a carbon-free tungsten mesh infiltrated with boron. A boron-tungsten-mesh plasma chamber material may alleviate the cyclic fatigue and erosion issues associated with steady-state plasma burn and transient events such as localized edge modes and disruptions. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee Nuclear fusion is an ideal alternative to increasingly scarce and expensive fossil fuels and can provide a much greater quantity of environmentally sound energy than wind, solar, and geothermal sources. The proposed tungsten/boron chamber wall would be an enabling technology for long-term operation of the tokamak demonstration power reactor, and the technology could be extended to commercial fusion power reactors.