Optimization of RF-ICP Tungsten Deposits for Plasma Facing Components

0498212 - ÚFP 2019 RIV SI eng C - Conference Paper (international conference)
Klečka, Jakub - Čížek, Jan - Matějíček, Jiří - Zlatník, R.
Optimization of RF-ICP Tungsten Deposits for Plasma Facing Components.
Proceedings: 27th International Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe. Ljubljana: Nuclear Society of Slovenia, 2017. ISBN 978-80-89402-99-1.
[27th International Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe. Portorož (SI), 10.09.2018-13.09.2018]
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA17-23154S
Institutional support: RVO:61389021
Keywords : tungsten * plasma-facing components
OECD category: Materials engineering
http://www.nss.si/nene2018/Contents.htm

Tungsten (W) and its alloys are promising candidate materials for plasma facing components (PFC) in future fusion reactors. Despite having many advantages (the highest melting point of all metals, high density, low vapor pressure), tungsten also possesses several drawbacks, such as poor machinability and weldability. One of the nowadays considered PFC production routes is plasma spraying. For this, the conventional gas-stabilized atmospheric plasma torches have inherent critical limitations (insufficient plasma enthalpy to efficiently melt the tungsten particles, susceptibility to oxidation at elevated temperatures). The novel radio frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF-ICP) is a unique system capable of overcoming these limitations. Using RF-ICP, more efficient melting of tungsten particles and controlled atmosphere provide a unique possibility to produce dense, oxides-free deposits.
In our study, TekSpray-15 RF-ICP (Tekna, Canada) was used for the preparation of tungsten coatings from two different feedstock powders under varying system parameters (torch power, chamber pressure). Their influence was studied via SEM observations of the deposits microstructure as well as XRD analyses.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0290606