Erosion of carbon-based materials in a steady-state deuterium plasma

Experimental results on plasma induced erosion of graphites and CFC materia ls are presented. Experiments were: performed in the LENTA linear simulator allowing the ion fluence corresponding to the ITER divertor conditions for one operation cycle (similar to 10(22) D+/cm(2)) to be achieved in a few h ours. RG-Ti-91 titanium doped and RG-Ti-91 with 0.1% boron addition graphit es (Russia), American POCO-AXF-5Q and European composites SEP N112-A and DU NLOP-exp B were taken for the study to compare their erosion properties und er similar conditions. Erosion yield has been evaluated using weight loss m easurements. Plasma contamination is monitored by optical spectroscopy and gas composition is analyzed by mass-spectrometric method during exposure. B oth methods have shown intensive deuterocarbon formation for the ITER relev ant working temperatures of the samples, 750 degrees C and 1150 degrees C. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.