PhD Defense | Kateryna Poleshchuk | Subminiaturised Testing and Neutron Irradiation Effects on ITER-specification W/Cu/CuCrZr Joints

Subminiaturised Testing and Neutron Irradiation Effects on ITER-specification W/Cu/CuCrZr Joints

Fusion energy could become a major solution to the world’s energy and climate challenges. ITER is the world’s largest fusion energy project, aiming to create clean, safe, and nearly unlimited energy by mimicking the reactions that power the Sun.

A key part of the ITER reactor is the divertor, which helps control the plasma by handling intense heat and removing fusion reaction waste. The divertor uses monoblocks made from tungsten and copper alloys. These materials are joined together, but it is not yet fully understood how these joints survive the extreme conditions inside a fusion reactor, especially after exposure to high-energy neutrons.

To address this question, a new testing methodology was developed for evaluating the joint strength in the monoblocks after being exposed to neutron radiation similar to what they would experience inside the ITER reactor. The results showed that radiation changes the materials, making them harder but also more brittle, and that temperature plays a major role in how they respond and fracture.

These findings are important for building durable components that can operate safely and reliably in future fusion reactors. This work brings us one step closer to making fusion power a practical and lasting energy source for the world.

Promoter:

• Kim Verbeken (UGENT)

SCK CEN mentors:

• Dmitry Terentyev
• Wouter Van Renterghem