A NOVEL CARBON FIRST WALL MATERIAL

FIRST WALL PROTECTION MATERIALS FOR A FUSION REACTOR MUST BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE VERY HOSTILE THERMAL AND NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENT OF THE PLASMA CHAMBER. MATERIALS MUST HAVE HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, HIGH RADIATION RESISTANCE, AND EXCELLENT THERMAL SHOCK RESISTANCE, AMONG OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. WE ARE PROPOSING TO DEVELOP A NOVEL MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR FIRST WALL PROTECTION, LIMITER, OR DIVERTOR APPLICATIONS. THE MATERIAL IS A VITREOUS CARBON FOAM COATED WITH PYROLYTICGRAPHITE, AND REINFORCED WITH A NOVEL CARBON FIBER. THE FIBERS EXHIBIT EXCELLENT THERMAL PROPERTIES; PYROLTIC GRAPHITE ALSO HAS VERY GOOD PROPERTIES. BOTH HAVE POTENTIALLY EXCELLENT RADIATION RESISTANCE. WE WILL DETERMINE THE OPTIMUM DENSITY FOR THE MATERIAL, AND WILL EXPLORE THE USE OF SIC AS A SUPPLEMENTAL COATING TO ENHANCE THERMAL AND RADIATION RESISTANCE. TESTING WILL DETERMINE THE IDEAL FORM OF THE MATERIAL FOR A FIRST WALL APPLICATION. THE MATERIAL WILL POTENTIALLY SOLVE SUBSTANTIAL MATERIALS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FUSION REACTORS.