Dendritic Engineered Refractory Armor for Fusion Energy Applications

The use of fusion technology for cost-competitive electric energy generation cannot be realized until advanced plasma-facing materials and structures are developed that are capable of withstanding the intense pulsed X-rays, energetic ions, and neutrons produced by the periodic explosion of a fusion pellet at the reactor center. The specific problem addressed in this project is the blistering that occurs in tungsten plasma-facing components as a result of the interaction of tungsten with helium and hydrogen isotopes. Ion beam testing at Sandia National Laboratories has demonstrated the benefits of using needles, protruding from a flat surface, to more volumetrically distribute the incident radiation, thereby reducing ablation and thermally induced stress without blistering. In previous work, high-emittance dendritic (needle-like) coatings have been applied to refractory metal structures operated at ultrahigh temperatures, in order to enhance heat transfer into or out of the structure. In this project, this coating technology will be applied to the surfaces of plasma-facing components to substantially improve thermal shock and ablation resistance. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee The improved materials should speed the realization of nuclear fusion as a replacement for increasingly scarce fossil fuel energy sources. Other alternatives to fossil fuels (e.g., wind, solar, geothermal) cannot generate sufficient energy to meet current needs