Tungsten-steel and tungsten-chromium composites prepared by RF plasma spraying

For future fusion reactors, materials able to withstand harsh environments are needed. In particular, this concerns the plasma-facing components which are foreseen to consist of tungsten-based plasma-facing armor and structural and cooling part made of steel. Currently, joining of these materials presents a significant challenge. The stress concentration at their interface, which arises due to thermal exposure and the difference in thermal and mechanical properties, can be reduced by composite/graded interlayers. Plasma spraying is among the prospective technologies for their preparation. In this work, tungsten-steel and tungsten-chromium composites were prepared by radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF-ICP) spraying. Initial optimization of the spraying process for pure materials as well as their mixtures was carried out. Basic characterization of the layers for their structure, porosity and composition is presented.