Effect of neutron irradiation on mechanical properties of Cu/SS joints after single and multiple HIP cycles

Abstract

The present design of the ITER plasma facing components consists of a copper alloy heat sink layer between plasma facing materials and stainless steel structure. The main option for manufacturing these components is hot isostatic pressing (HIP) method and several HIP thermal cycles are foreseen for manufacturing of the complete blanket module. Mechanical characterisation of HIP joints between dissimilar metals is a complicated issue, where information on mechanical properties of base alloys, metallurgy of the HIP joints and mechanical testing methods will be required. The tensile and three point bend tests produced different fracture modes, depending on test temperature, applied HIP thermal cycles and neutron irradiation. The fracture mode was either ductile fracture of copper alloy or joint interface fracture. The mechanical properties of the HIP joint specimens were dominated by strength mismatch of the base alloys which was affected by HIP thermal cycles and neutron irradiation.