Erosion of a TiAl intermetallic alloy under conditions simulating plasma disruptions

Radiation erosion and thermal stability of TiAl-based intermetallic alloys produced by vacuum-arc melting, compacting of microcrystal powders with binder and impregnantion by melt, and their brazed joints with bronze have been investigated under irradiation by high-temperature pulsed hydrogen plasma flows (the flow energy density Q = 0.2−0.9 MJ/m2, the pulse duration 15 μs, the number of pulses 1–21) which simulate the expected plasma disruptions in a fusion reactor. It has been found that the erosion coefficients and thermal stability of alloys are determined by the way of their fabrication, and compacted intermetallides have a higher thermal stability in comparison with the cast ones. The brazed joints of the intermetallic compound with bronze under irradiation by pulsed hydrogen plasma up to the energy density Q = 0.75 MJ/m2 have a high thermal stability and formation of cracks was not observed.