Generation and characterization of carbon particulate in disruption simulations

The SIRENS high heat flux facility at NCSU has been used to generate partic ulate representative of material mobilized during a hard disruption in a fu sion reactor. The electrothermal (ET) plasma source in SIRENS has been foun d to be suitable for disruption simulation Particulate generation occurs in both the fusion reactor and the ET source as material mobilized from the p lasma-surface interface expands into a large volume. The response of carbon -based material and carbon/metal mixtures to disruption simulation in SIREN S has been studied and the resulting particle size data are presented in th is paper. Specific materials investigated include Lexan polycarbonate, grap hite grades UTR-22 and ATJ, and combinations of Lexan with each copper, sta inless steel 316, tungsten, and aluminum.