Vanadium-base alloys for fusion reactor applications — a review

Metal-ceramic composites for hostile environment applications

“…The observed radiation resistance of vanadium-spinel composites was anticipated to some extent, based on the known radiation resistance properties of the constituents. MgAI,O, single crystals have survived neutron exposures of up to 250 dpa and exhibited virtually no change in physical dimensions or elastic properties [3 13-Moreover, vanadium-base alloys are distinguished for their swelling resistance, especially V-Cr-Ti alloys which have projected lifetimes for swelling > 250 dpa [3]. If the radiation resistance of vanadium-spinel composites persists at the higher fusion first wall design temperatures (-75OoC), then vanadiumspinel structural composites may constitute attractive alternatives to the conventional first wall design materials.…”

“…A potential application for this composite is as a first-wall material in a deuterium-tritium magnetic fusion reactor (MFX). Three classes of materials are currently being considered for this application: (1) austenitic [ 11 and femtic/martensitic steels [2]; (2) vanadium-base alloys [3]; and (3) silicon-carbide/silicon-carbide (SiC-Sic) Also with Jupiter Technologies, Cornell Industrial Research Park, Ithaca, NY 14850.…”

Effects of Irradiation Environment on V–4Cr–4Ti Alloys

“…Interstitial impurities such as oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen are known to be important for radiation effects such as microstructure changes, irradiation hardening, and embrittlement [1][2][3]. In particular, oxygen is known to effectively influence the alloy properties.…”

Effect of Fast Neutron Irradiation on the Microstructure in Particle Dispersed Ultra-fine Grained V-Y Alloys

“…Vanadium alloys have been recognized as a candidate of structural material for fusion reactors [1][2][3][4] because of its lowinduced radioactivity. 5) They will be seriously embrittled by neutron irradiation at temperatures below 400 C. 3,6,7) Since such embrittlement is caused by irradiation-induced lattice defects, it is effective to introduce sinks of the defects in the material to suppress the embrittlement.…”

“…MA-treated vanadium powder, however, has large affinity with interstitial impurities such as oxygen and nitrogen, yielding a lack of ductility of vanadium alloys produced by MA without irradiation. 1,11,12) One of our authors had successfully developed vanadium alloys having ultra-fine grains with dispersed particles containing extremely little interstitial impurities by using MA method. 13) Threepoint bend impact tests showed that the alloys exhibited good ductility even at 77 K. 13) To the authors' knowledge, no work has focused on the microstructural evolutions of such alloys after irradiation.…”