Mechanical properties of tungsten following rhenium ion and helium plasma exposure

C.S. Corr; S. O'Ryan; C. Tanner; M. Thompson; J.E. Bradby; G. De Temmerman; R.G. Elliman; P. Kluth; D. Riley

Nuclear Materials and Energy (Aug 2017)

Mechanical properties of tungsten following rhenium ion and helium plasma exposure

C.S. Corr,
S. O'Ryan,
C. Tanner,
M. Thompson,
J.E. Bradby,
G. De Temmerman,
R.G. Elliman,
P. Kluth,
D. Riley

Affiliations

C.S. Corr: Corresponding author.; Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
S. O'Ryan: Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
C. Tanner: Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
M. Thompson: Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
J.E. Bradby: Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
G. De Temmerman: ITER Organization, Route de Vinon-sur-Verdon CS 90046- 13067 St Paul Lez Durance Cedex, France
R.G. Elliman: Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
P. Kluth: Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
D. Riley: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12
pp. 1336 – 1341

Abstract

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Mechanical properties of Tungsten (W) samples irradiated with 2 MeV Rhenium (Re) ions and helium (He) plasma were investigated using nanoindentation. It was found that there was an increase in hardness for all samples following separate irradiation with both Re ion and He plasma. A slight increase in hardness was obtained for combined exposures. A comparable increase in hardness was observed for a pure He plasma with a sample temperature of 473 K and 1273 K. Optical interferometry was employed to compare surface modification of the samples. Grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering confirmed He nano-bubble formation of approximately 1 nm diameter in the higher temperature sample, which was not observed with samples at the lower temperatures.

Published in Nuclear Materials and Energy

ISSN: 2352-1791 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-materials-and-energy/

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