High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials
Abstract Refractory High‐Entropy Alloys (RHEAs) are promising candidates for structural materials in nuclear fusion reactors, where W‐based alloys are currently leading. Fusion materials must withstand extreme conditions, including i) severe radiation damage from energetic neutrons, ii) embrittlemen...
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Advanced Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417659 |
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| author | Matheus A. Tunes Darren Parkison Bochuan Sun Patrick Willenshofer Sebastian Samberger Christoph Frühwirth Shalini Tripathi Benjamin K. Derby Jon Kevin S. Baldwin Saryu J. Fensin Damian Sobieraj Jan S. Wróbel Jesper Byggmästar Stefan Pogatscher Enrique Martinez Duc Nguyen‐Manh Osman El‐Atwani |
| author_facet | Matheus A. Tunes Darren Parkison Bochuan Sun Patrick Willenshofer Sebastian Samberger Christoph Frühwirth Shalini Tripathi Benjamin K. Derby Jon Kevin S. Baldwin Saryu J. Fensin Damian Sobieraj Jan S. Wróbel Jesper Byggmästar Stefan Pogatscher Enrique Martinez Duc Nguyen‐Manh Osman El‐Atwani |
| author_sort | Matheus A. Tunes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Refractory High‐Entropy Alloys (RHEAs) are promising candidates for structural materials in nuclear fusion reactors, where W‐based alloys are currently leading. Fusion materials must withstand extreme conditions, including i) severe radiation damage from energetic neutrons, ii) embrittlement due to H and He ion implantation, and iii) exposure to high temperatures and thermal gradients. Recent RHEAs, such as WTaCrV and WTaCrVHf, have shown superior radiation tolerance and microstructural stability compared to pure W, but their multi‐element compositions complicate bulk fabrication and limit practical use. In this study, it is demonstrated that reducing alloying elements in RHEAs is feasible without compromising radiation tolerance. Herein, two Highly Concentrated Refractory Alloys (HCRAs) − W53Ta44V3 and W53Ta42V5 (at.%) − were synthesized and investigated. We found that small V additions significantly influence the radiation response of the binary W–Ta system. Experimental results, supported by ab‐initio Monte Carlo simulations and machine‐learning‐driven molecular dynamics, reveal that minor variations in V content enhance Ta–V chemical short‐range order (CSRO), improving radiation resistance in the W53Ta42V5 HCRA. By focusing on reducing chemical complexity and the number of alloying elements, the conventional high‐entropy alloy paradigm is challenged, suggesting a new approach to designing simplified multi‐component alloys with refractory properties for thermonuclear fusion applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3afc8a39e7f84e468be9a3112ef64e97 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2198-3844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-3afc8a39e7f84e468be9a3112ef64e972025-08-20T02:02:16ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-05-011220n/an/a10.1002/advs.202417659High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion MaterialsMatheus A. Tunes0Darren Parkison1Bochuan Sun2Patrick Willenshofer3Sebastian Samberger4Christoph Frühwirth5Shalini Tripathi6Benjamin K. Derby7Jon Kevin S. Baldwin8Saryu J. Fensin9Damian Sobieraj10Jan S. Wróbel11Jesper Byggmästar12Stefan Pogatscher13Enrique Martinez14Duc Nguyen‐Manh15Osman El‐Atwani16Department of Metallurgy Chair of Non‐Ferrous Metallurgy Montanuniversität Leoben Leoben Steiermark 8700 AustriaMaterials Science and Technology Division Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USADepartments of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Clemson University Clemson South Carolina 29634 USADepartment of Metallurgy Chair of Non‐Ferrous Metallurgy Montanuniversität Leoben Leoben Steiermark 8700 AustriaDepartment of Metallurgy Chair of Non‐Ferrous Metallurgy Montanuniversität Leoben Leoben Steiermark 8700 AustriaDepartment of Metallurgy Chair of Non‐Ferrous Metallurgy Montanuniversität Leoben Leoben Steiermark 8700 AustriaReactor Materials Group, Nuclear Sciences Division Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 USACenter for Integrated Nanotechnologies Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USACenter for Integrated Nanotechnologies Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USACenter for Integrated Nanotechnologies Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USAFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering Warsaw University of Technology Warsaw 02‐507 PolandFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering Warsaw University of Technology Warsaw 02‐507 PolandDepartment of Physics University of Helsinki Helsinki 00014 FinlandDepartment of Metallurgy Chair of Non‐Ferrous Metallurgy Montanuniversität Leoben Leoben Steiermark 8700 AustriaDepartments of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Clemson University Clemson South Carolina 29634 USAMaterials Division, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Culham Campus Abingdon OX14 3DB UKReactor Materials Group, Nuclear Sciences Division Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 USAAbstract Refractory High‐Entropy Alloys (RHEAs) are promising candidates for structural materials in nuclear fusion reactors, where W‐based alloys are currently leading. Fusion materials must withstand extreme conditions, including i) severe radiation damage from energetic neutrons, ii) embrittlement due to H and He ion implantation, and iii) exposure to high temperatures and thermal gradients. Recent RHEAs, such as WTaCrV and WTaCrVHf, have shown superior radiation tolerance and microstructural stability compared to pure W, but their multi‐element compositions complicate bulk fabrication and limit practical use. In this study, it is demonstrated that reducing alloying elements in RHEAs is feasible without compromising radiation tolerance. Herein, two Highly Concentrated Refractory Alloys (HCRAs) − W53Ta44V3 and W53Ta42V5 (at.%) − were synthesized and investigated. We found that small V additions significantly influence the radiation response of the binary W–Ta system. Experimental results, supported by ab‐initio Monte Carlo simulations and machine‐learning‐driven molecular dynamics, reveal that minor variations in V content enhance Ta–V chemical short‐range order (CSRO), improving radiation resistance in the W53Ta42V5 HCRA. By focusing on reducing chemical complexity and the number of alloying elements, the conventional high‐entropy alloy paradigm is challenged, suggesting a new approach to designing simplified multi‐component alloys with refractory properties for thermonuclear fusion applications.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417659fusion materialshigh entropy alloysrefractory high entropy alloysradiation damagethermonuclear fusionin situ TEM |
| spellingShingle | Matheus A. Tunes Darren Parkison Bochuan Sun Patrick Willenshofer Sebastian Samberger Christoph Frühwirth Shalini Tripathi Benjamin K. Derby Jon Kevin S. Baldwin Saryu J. Fensin Damian Sobieraj Jan S. Wróbel Jesper Byggmästar Stefan Pogatscher Enrique Martinez Duc Nguyen‐Manh Osman El‐Atwani High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials Advanced Science fusion materials high entropy alloys refractory high entropy alloys radiation damage thermonuclear fusion in situ TEM |
| title | High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials |
| title_full | High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials |
| title_fullStr | High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials |
| title_short | High Radiation Resistance in the Binary W‐Ta System Through Small V Additions: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Fusion Materials |
| title_sort | high radiation resistance in the binary w ta system through small v additions a new paradigm for nuclear fusion materials |
| topic | fusion materials high entropy alloys refractory high entropy alloys radiation damage thermonuclear fusion in situ TEM |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417659 |
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