Thermal stability of the microstructure in rolled tungsten for fusion reactors

Plasma-facing components of future fusion reactors will have tungsten-based materials as armor. Annealed pure tungsten is brittle at room temperature restricting its use plasma-facing material, whereas plastically deformed behaves in general more ductile ambient temperatures. During operation material high temperatures, the deformation structure induced by plastic becomes unstable. Restoration processes recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth alter microstructure impair desired mechanical properties. In particular, recrystallization reinstate intrinsic brittleness tungsten. Achieving a thorough understanding occurring restoration mechanisms (for long times temperatures close to possible) quantifying temperature-dependent kinetics are essential for assessing performance an informed selection. The thermal stability differently rolled plates reviewed with aim predicting lifetime; impact different activation energies on selection armor highlighted. concept constituting threshold below which does not occur dismissed.