Abstract
Nuclear fusion is a promising potential low-carbon alternative method of generating energy. However, one major limitation in its implementation is that traditional alloys currently lack the resistance to oxidation at extreme temperature or decrease in strength at extreme temperatures. Therefore, Refractory Multi-Principal Element Alloys (MPEAs) was investigated to find a potential material with high thermal diffusivity, low transmutation and low radioactivity that can be used for nuclear fusion purposes. In this project, compositional spread samples consisting of five refractory elements were made through plasma sputtering deposition and the thermal diffusivity of the samples were analysed by using a Transient Grating Spectroscopy (TGS). The TGS analysis conducted shows a strong correlation between the sample’s thickness and the thermal diffusivity. This project therefore concluded that plasma sputtering was not suitable for making thick samples and the compositional spread samples made were too thin for thermal diffusivity to be accurately investigated through the use of the TGS system.