4.18 - Carbon as a Fusion Plasma-Facing Material

Graphite and carbon fiber composites have been and will be used as plasma-facing components (PFCs) in fusion devices. While the use of this material enhances plasma performance, the harsh plasma and nuclear environment gives rise to a range of physical property changes and material interactions. High-energy plasma ions can react with, and remove, the carbon atoms to the plasma. Neutrons produced by the fusion reaction produce a cascade damage that drastically alters the thermophysical properties of the material. These factors inherently limit both the lifetime of the PFCs and the performance of the devices in which they are applied.