Modeling Accelerated Development of Interface Engineered Tungsten Alloy Plasma Facing Materials

Jason R. Trelewicz, Stony Brook University (Principal Investigator)

Ian McCue, Northwestern University (Co-Investigator)

Gianna Valentino, University of Maryland (Co-Investigator)

Tungsten has emerged as a promising candidate for plasma-facing armor in fusion divertors; however, unresolved challenges remain, including high-temperature stability, resilience against plasma-induced surface damage, and degradation of bulk properties due to irradiation. This research will advance two new classes of interface-engineered tungsten alloys with the goal of achieving stabilized ultrafine-grained tungsten armor up to 1600 °C and crack-free, laser additively manufactured divertor structures up to 1300 °C. When combined with a newly developed nanoporous tungsten plasma barrier, these materials create a transformational opportunity for engineered divertor architectures, denoted Gradient Engineered Plasma Facing Materials (GEN-PFMs). The proposed project builds on the research team’s prior work by leveraging computational thermodynamics to tune the chemistry and microstructure of each alloy, followed by thermomechanical testing to measure thermophysical and mechanical properties as a function of temperature. In parallel, the design space of the nanoporous tungsten plasma barrier will be mapped and used to guide the development of thermal coarsening models. Through established collaborations, each material will be subjected to relevant fusion loading conditions, including plasma exposures and high heat-flux testing. Finally, GEN-PFM architectures will be fabricated for thermal gradient mechanical testing—a new technique this project aims to evaluate for broader adoption within the fusion materials community.