EFFECTS OF TITANIUM IMPREGNATION ON THE THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY OF CARBON COPPER COMPOSITE-MATERIALS/

Carbon/copper-based materials with high thermal conductivity and good stability at high temperatures were developed by adding a small amount of titanium. The isotropic fine-grained nuclear grade graphite and fe lt type C/C composite, which were impregnated by copper (10-18 vol.%) and titanium (0.5-0.8 vol.%), provided similar to 1.3 times higher the rmal conductivity of 110 and 200 W/mK at 1200 K than the original carb on materials. Microstructural analyses showed that the increase of the rmal conductivity is due to the formation of titanium compounds at the carbon/copper interface, and that the thermal energy would pass throu gh both the carbon and copper. The present study indicates that additi on of a small amount of a third element with a low enthalphy of alloy formation with carbon and copper will increase the thermal conductivit y and the stability of carbon/copper-based materials. These carbon-bas ed materials could be one of candidate materials for the plasma facing components of the fusion devices. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.