On the potential of tungsten-vanadium composites for high temperature application in nuclear fusion

The present study is concerned with a numerical and experimental exploration of the potential of tungsten-vanadium composite materials as high temperature materials for nuclear fusion with enhanced thermal operation window. In a numerical screening analysis, different microstructural design options were compared with respect to their macroscopic ""effective"" properties regarding stiffness, strength, thermal insulation, creep resistance and fracture toughness. Based on the numerical results, a trial heat of the proposed material has been processed and tested for its high temperature creep resistance and its fracture toughness at ambient temperature.