SMART materials for DEMO: Towards industrial production

Self-passivating Metal Alloys with Reduced Thermo-oxidation (SMART) are under development for a fusion power plant. SMART exhibits similar sputtering resistance as that of pure tungsten during regular plasma operation. Under accident conditions, SMART demonstrates the suppression of oxidation – a remarkable advantage over pure tungsten. The viability of SMART technology has been shown on a laboratory scale.Presently, the industrial scale-up of SMART technology is underway. This activity comprises the industrially supplied feedstock materials for SMART, mechanical alloying of powder at industry and sintering of SMART materials using industrial equipment. Industrial mechanical alloying can be accomplished within 21,5 h of milling, providing at least four kilograms of fully alloyed powder. Rectangular industrial SMART samples feature linear dimensions of 10 cm, a thickness of 0.5 cm, a weight slightly below 1 kg and a relative density exceeding 97 %.The transition to industrial feedstock suppliers allowed SMART to outperform pure tungsten in powder procurement costs needed for plasma-facing components. The status of industrial SMART technology is given along with an outlook on future activities.