Effect of neutron irradiation on fracture toughness behaviour of copper alloys

One of the most important factors in deciding about the applicability of ma terials in the structural components of ITER, is the effect of neutron irra diation on the fracture toughness behaviour of these materials. In the pres ent work, the fracture toughness properties of two candidate materials for the first wall and divertor components of ITER, namely precipitation harden ed CuCrZr and dispersion hardened CuAl25 alloys, have been studied in the u nirradiated and irradiated conditions. In parallel, tensile properties of t hese alloys have been also investigated in the unirradiated and irradiated conditions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.