Simulation of the effects of different substrates, temperature, and substrate roughness on the mechanical properties of Al2O3 coating as tritium penetration barrier

Abstract

Residual thermal stress in the system is a serious problem that affects the application of tritium permeation barrier coatings in fusion reactors. The stress not only determines the adhesion between coating and substrate, but also changes the properties of the material. In this study, finite element analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the residual thermal stress and the mechanical properties of Al2O3 tritium penetration barrier systems. Moreover, the residual thermal stress influenced by factors such as different substrates, temperature, and substrate roughness was also analyzed. The calculation showed that the hardness and elastic modulus increased with increasing compressive stress. However, the hardness and elastic modulus decreased with increasing tensile stress. The systems composed of Al2O3 coatings and different substrates exhibited different trends in mechanical properties. As the temperature increased, the hardness and the elastic modulus increased in an Al2O3/316L stainless steel system; the trend was opposite in an Al2O3/Si system. Apart from this, the roughness of the substrate surface in the system could magnify the change in hardness and elastic modulus of the coating. Results showed that all these factors led to variation in the mechanical properties of Al2O3 tritium permeation barrier systems. Thus, the detailed reasons for the changes in mechanical properties of these materials need to be analyzed.