Keywords

Tungsten, Spark Plasma Sintering, Oxidation, Heat Pipes, Fusion Reactors

Abstract

The interest in developing new materials and components for fusion reactors has increased significantly in the past few decades. The high heat fluxes in fusion reactors require innovative designs to interface between the reactor and the power generation cycles. One promising solution is using heat pipes for heat transfer and thermal management. To manufacture a heat pipe of hightemperature capability, Tungsten has been chosen as the heat pipe’s shell material. This research investigates the oxidation behavior of tungsten alloys fabricated using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. These alloys, which incorporate zirconium carbide (ZrC) additives ranging from 3–5%, were subjected to air oxidation experiments at temperatures between 600–1200 °C, with constant temperature ramps, variable hold times, and natural cooling profiles. The fabrication of these alloys was carried out in collaboration with Energy Driven Technologies, a key project partner responsible for the development and processing of all tungsten alloy samples used in this study. Using SPS as a novel manufacturing method, combined with the unique composition of the tungsten alloys, may improve oxidation resistance under extreme conditions. Oxidation was assessed using a microbalance for mass change measurements and microscopy for surface analysis. The results showed the formation of tungsten trioxide (WO3) on the alloy surfaces, with the composition of the tungsten alloys influencing the oxidation characteristics. While this study primarily presents a qualitative investigation due to constraints in equipment and sample throughput, it establishes a critical baseline for future work focused on quantitative oxide kinetics, phase identification, and mechanistic modeling. This study offers valuable insights into the oxidation performance of SPS fabricated tungsten alloys, contributing to the advancement of high-performance materials for heat pipes in nuclear fusion applications and other high-temperature environments, such as waste heat recovery in land- and air-based turbines and thermal management in hypersonic aircraft.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Kapat, Jayanta

Degree

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (M.S.A.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Format

PDF

Release Date

8-15-2027

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Subjects

Heat resistant alloys--Research; Fusion reactors--Materials; Materials at high temperatures; Tungsten oxides; Materials at high temperatures--Corrosion

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