Progress in the development of industrial scale tungsten fibre-reinforced composite materials

Currently, tungsten fibre-reinforced (Wf) composites are regarded as promising materials for plasma-facing components of future magnetic confinement fusion devices. In this context, tungsten fibre-reinforced tungsten (Wf/W) is being investigated as a pseudo-ductile composite material overcoming the intrinsic brittleness of bulk tungsten while tungsten fibre-reinforced copper (Wf/Cu) is being developed as a high-strength composite heat sink material. In this contribution, we discuss the current development status and the progress that has been achieved recently with respect to characterization and upscaling of the aforementioned materials. In cooperation with industry, upscaling of multifilamentary W yarn fabrication was demonstrated. Multilayered W fibre braids were made from such yarns and used for the manufacturing of 400mm long medium-scale tungsten fibre-reinforced copper heat sink tubes. The maturity of short tungsten fibre-reinforced tungsten composites produced by powder metallurgy allowed the fabrication of flat tile mock-ups. Test procedure and first results of high heat flux tests are shown. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the benefits of these composites for the use in high heat flux components. •Large scale production of twisted W yarn comprising 14 × 16 μm filaments.•400 mm long Wf/Cu composite tube reinforced with braided W yarn preform.•High heat flux tests of short fibre-reinforced Wf/W composite flat-tile mock-ups.