| Abstract Scope |
Developing novel alloys is essential for fusion reactor viability due to extreme operating conditions, including temperatures over 1000°C and severe neutron irradiation. Existing materials often degrade under these conditions, exhibiting reduced mechanical properties, radiation-induced swelling, and microstructural instability. Refractory alloys, with high melting points and exceptional radiation tolerance, hold promise for ensuring structural stability and extending reactor component lifetimes.
This work integrates alloy discovery methods with additive manufacturing to create materials designed for extreme environments. High-throughput phase stability and microstructural investigations were performed using co-deposition sputtering to map ternary alloy systems involving W, Mo, Ta, Nb, Re, and Ti. Bulk properties, such as ductility and corrosion resistance, were examined using directed energy deposition (DED) techniques. The resulting dataset has been incorporated into a machine learning framework, facilitating alloy design tailored to the demands of nuclear energy applications. |