Performance of yttrium doped tungsten under ‘edge localized mode’-like loading conditions

Abstract

Spark plasma sintered tungsten grades, with an yttrium content varying between 0.25 and 1 wt%, were characterized and exposed to transient thermal loads. The samples were cyclic tested at room temperature applying 1 ms long heat pulses using a Nd:YAG laser beam and the electron beam facility JUDITH 1. The absorbed power density of these pulses varied between 0.37 and 1.14 GW m−2. The material modifications were analysed with scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and laser profilometry. Comparison showed an improvement of the thermal shock resistance with increasing yttrium content. Additionally, three samples were tested at an elevated base temperature at 400 °C. The two materials with highest yttrium content cracked, indicating still brittle behaviour at the elevated base temperature when adding yttrium.