Insights into microstructural evolution of tungsten-tungsten carbide plasma facing composite materials prepared by field assisted sintering technique

Combining a stable, resilient W-W2C or WC as plasma-facing material, with thermally more conductive and ductile W as a structural material, may provide a solution for the demanding environment in the fusion reactor chamber. In order to ensure the structural stability of such layered composite, their phase composition and thermal stability at elevated temperatures and cyclic heat loads needs to be evaluated.