On the potential of tungsten-vanadium composites for high temperature application with wide-range thermal operation window

The present study is concerned with the numerical design of a composite material consisting of tungsten and vanadium for application in future nuclear fusion plants. The proposed composite material combines a significant creep resistance at high temperatures with a reasonable fracture toughness in the low temperature range and, compared to its constituents, features an enhanced thermal operation window. In a first step, a numerical screening analysis is performed for a comparison of different types of composite materials including particle, short fiber and infinite fiber reinforced composites with both, regular and random microstructures. The different options are compared with respect to their thermal and mechanical properties as well as their creep resistance. In a preliminary experimental investigation, a first trial heat of the composite is processed and tested for its creep resistance at 1000 C and its fracture toughness at ambient temperature. The results reveal a distinct potential of the material. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.