USE OF TITANIUM IN FUSION COMPONENTS

In the late 1970s, titanium was of interest to the fusion program because of its large unirradiated material property database, mature supplier and fabrication industry, low cost, and large mineral reserves. At that time there were a number of other competing structural materials such as stainless steels, ferritic steels, nicker base alloys, refractory metals (niobium and vanadium), and ordered alloys. The majority of these materials had higher operating temperatures which allowed for higher thermal conversion efficiencies. The,lower operating temperature coupled with a lack of an irradiation database and the potential for high tritium inventory made titanium unattractive for further study. Today, with the greater emphasis in the US on reduced radioactivation and waste management, the case for titanium is being reassessed. This paper looks at the issues regarding the use of titanium in fusion and discusses the results of experimental activities initiated to resolve those issues.