Development of 1-D carbon composites for plasma-facing components

Abstract

Carbon-based materials continue to be proposed and utilized as plasma-facing surfaces in fusion devices because of their low atomic number and superior high temperature thermal properties. This study presents results of a carbon-carbon composite development program for high heat flux surfaces using one-dimensional (1-D), high thermal conductivity materials. Thermal conductivity testing of six 1-D composites was accomplished, along with coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) tests. Results indicate progress toward achieving composites with very high conductivity, approaching pyrolytic graphite values. Several 1-D composites have room temperature thermal conductivities which exceed 500 W/m K in the parallel-to-fiber direction. Perpendicular-to-fiber direction conductivity values were typically more that an order of magnitude lower. Experimental CTE data show values up to 10 × 10 −6/°C perpendicular to fibers and nearly zero values in the fiber direction. Mechanical property testing will be included in future efforts.