Processing and Evaluation of Graded SiC/Cu Facing Plasma Composite

A near dense graded SiC/Cu plasma facing material with a spectrum of 0-100% compositional distributions of SiC was successfully prepared by a new process termed graded sintering under ultra-high pressure. Tests on plasma relevant performances showed that the chemical sputtering CD₄ yield of SiC/Cu graded composite is 80% lower than that of SMF-800 nuclear graphite, while its thermal desorption is about 10% of that graphite; Fatigue cracks and chemical decomposition were found on the surface of SiC/Cu FGM after 300 cycles of thermal impact with a power of 398 MW/m² laser impulse, slight damage was also observed on the material surface after in-situ plasma trradiation in Tokamak apparatus.