Transient Thermal Shock Performance of Sintered W-TaC by SPS

Abstract:

Dispersion strengthened tungsten with tantalun carbide was prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS).High heat flux tests were performed with the electron beam device EMS-60 (60 kW Electron-beam Material-test Scenario) at Southwestern Institute of Physics.The polished tungsten surfaces were exposed to single shot disruption-like and repetitive ELM-like thermal shock loads at various absorbed energy densities.The thermal shock-induced damages were analysed by scanning electron microscope and the microstructure was observed by transmission electron microscope . The result show that no crack were detected on the tungsten surface when sample exposed to single shot thermal shock with absorbed energy density at 740MW/m₂, crack appeared when sample exposed to repetitive thermal shock with absorbed power density at 550MW/m₂. SEM and TEM images show that TaC particles disperse in tungsten grains interior including both intragranular and intergranular. This strategy including strengthening phase boundaries through coherent structure, strengthening grain boundaries through semi-coherent structure which leads to the excellent strengthen of W-TaC alloy plate.