Spark Plasma Sintering Produced W-Fiber-Reinforced Tungsten Composites

In future fusion reactors, tungsten is considered the main candidate material for plasma-facing components. However, the intrinsic brittleness of tungsten is an issue under the extreme fusion environment. To overcome this drawback, W-fiber-reinforced tungsten (Wf/W) composites are being developed relying on an extrinsic toughening principle. W-fibers with extremely high tensile strength and ductile behavior are used to reinforce the tungsten matrix. The optimization of a weak interface between the fiber and matrix is crucial to realize the toughening mechanisms.