Ion-irradiation induced clustering in W-Re-Ta, W-Re and W-Ta alloys: An atom probe tomography and nanoindentation study

In tungsten plasma-facing fusion reactor components, Ta is the third most abundant element formed by transmutation (after Re and Os), yet little is known about the behaviour of W-Ta alloys under irradiation and any effects Ta might have on Re clustering in W-Re-Ta alloys. In this study, W−4.5 at.%Ta, W−2 at.%Re−1 at.%Ta and W−2 at.%Re alloys were exposed to 2 MeV W+ ions to a fluence of 2.64 × 1015 ions cm−2 at temperatures of 573 and 773 K....