Mechanical Tests of the ITER's PF-1 Coil Electrical Insulation Qualification Samples at 77 K

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The PF1 coil is one of six poloidal field coils of the ITER magnet system. In accordance with the PF-1 coil procurement arrangement, JSC NIIEFA have manufactured and tested qualification samples of the PF-1 coil electrical turn insulation. Insulation qualification samples should withstand static and cyclic mechanical tests at 77 K in accordance with specified parameters[1]. In 2015, JSC NIIEFA carried out mechanical tests of the PF-1 coil insulation qualification samples. These tests demonstrated that mechanical properties of the turn insulation of PF-1 coil meet the ITER requirements. The successful test results prove that developed technologies could be used for manufacturing of the electrical insulation of the PF-1 coil. The following tests at 77 K have been carried out in 2015: tensile, interlaminar shear, shear-compression, and push-out tests in the specimens cut from 3 × 3 mock-up sample. Samples for tensile and interlaminar shear tests were cut from plates, which simulate multilayer turn insulation of PF-1 coil. Shear-compression samples were cut from the sandwich plates, which simulate bonding of the insulation to the stainless steel jacket of PF1 conductor. All types of qualification samples successfully passed mechanical tests at 77 K. This paper describes: preparation of insulation qualification samples; VPI process of the insulation qualification samples; and mechanical tests of the qualification insulation samples at 77 K.