Thermomechanical characteristics of the low activation materials chromium and Cr center dot 5Fe center dot 1Y(2)O(3) alloy

Recent results of studies of basic physical and mechanical properties of si ntered high purity chromium and a sintered Cr . 5Fe . 1Y(2)O(3) ahoy are pr esented. The materials were investigated in the temperature range from room temperature to 900 degreesC and characterized by tensile testing, measurem ents of thermal diffusivity, thermal expansion, and heat capacity, compleme nted by metallography and fractography. The results are discussed with rega rd to transient thermal loading faced by first wall structures. In order to overcome the problem of brittleness and lack of ductility at low temperatu res, preliminary results on the effect of microstructure refinement by seve re plastic deformation are presented. These results indicate that the stren gth of pure chromium can be appreciably increased, and the brittleness may be reduced, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.