Erosion characteristics of neutron-irradiated carbon-based materials undersimulated disruption heat loads

This paper presents disruption simulation experiments on neutron-irradiated carbon-based materials to investigate the erosion characteristics of irrad iated materials. Uni-directional (1D) and 2D carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites (CFCs), which are one of the promising materials for the plasma facing components of the fusion experimental reactors, were selected as a test material. These samples were irradiated by neutrons with a total neutr on fluence of 3.2-5.6 x 10(24) n/m(2), which corresponds to 0.3-0.5 dpa, at an irradiation temperature of 280-320 degreesC. After the neutron irradiat ion, disruption simulation experiments were carried out at the electron bea m facility in the hot-cell under a heat load of 20 MJ/m(2), which simulates the ITER disruption conditions. As a result, the weight losses of neutron- irradiated 1D and 2D CFCs increase as the neutron fluence increases. The ma ximum erosion depth does not change with the neutron fluence. The surface e rosion profile is much broader with increasing neutron fluence. It can be s een that the increase in weight loss was caused by the broadened erosion pr ofile. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.