Investigation of Liquid Metal Embrittlement of Materials for use in Fusion Reactors

Liquid metals can provide a continually replenished material for the first wall and extraction blankets of fusion reactors. However, research has shown that solid metal surfaces will experience embrittlement when exposed to liquid metals under stress [1]. Therefore, it is important to understand the changes in structural strength of the solid metal materials and test different surface treatments that can limit embrittlement. Research was conducted to design and build an apparatus for exposing solid metal samples to liquid metal under high stress and temperature. The apparatus design, results of tensile testing, and surface imaging of fractured samples will be presented.\\[4pt] [1] B.A. Benson and R.G. Hoagland, Scr. Metall. 23 (1989) 1943-1948.