Fibre-reinforced materials in the first wall of thermonuclear fusion reactors

Laboratory tests on fibre-reinforced materials (carbon-carbon and silicon-carbide-silicon-carbide composites) are described. The erosion and the thermomechanical behaviour during exposure to high heat fluxes, and the thermal stability of these materials have been investigated. Neutron irradiation tests have been performed in materials test reactors to evaluate the applicability of fibre-reinforced material candidates in a fusion reactor environment