Comparison of the thermal conductivity of W-based plasma-facing materials: effects of composition, deformation and temperature
摘要
Thermal conductivity of plasma-facing materials (PFMs) is one of the most critical properties that affects the normal operation of nuclear fusion reactors and the service life of structural materials. This study systematically investigated the thermal conductivity of various tungsten (W)-based PFMs, including pure tungsten (PW), potassium-doped tungsten (WK), tungsten-yttrium (W-Y2O3), tungsten-rhenium (W–Re), and tungsten-rhenium-hafnium carbide alloys (W–Re–HfC), within the temperature range of 30–800 °C. Focus was put on the effects of different compositions, thermomechanical processing methods (swaging and rolling), and deformation degree on their thermal conductivity. Results show that the thermal conductivity of swaged WK is the highest amount the tested W-based alloys, reaching approximately 174 W/(m·K) at room temperature and it is comparable to that of PW. The thermal conductivity rises significantly as the deformation degree increases due to the improvement of relative density. Re alloying introduces lattice distortion, reducing the thermal conductivity of the W–Re alloy by approximately 22%. The dispersion of HfC in the W–Re–HfC further inhibits thermal conduction, while retaining a good high-temperature thermal conductivity stability. The results of this study may provide critical insights for the selection and optimization of PFMs in fusion reactors.