Study of small tensile specimen thickness effects in copper oriented for IFMIF-DONES irradiation

Abstract

Small specimen testing technology (SSTT) refers to the examination of tiny samples of materials to evaluate their suitability for use in fusion reactors. This includes assessing their thermal, mechanical, and radiation properties, as well as their ability to withstand extreme conditions. SSTT plays a critical role in the development of nuclear fusion technology, which holds the potential to provide a virtually limitless and clean energy source. SSTT is imperative in cases where not much material is available or must be subjected to special conditions that limit it. One of the main challenges in nuclear fusion is the development of materials that can withstand the harsh environment inside a fusion reactor. These materials must be able to withstand high temperatures, intense radiation, and mechanical stress, and be able to maintain their structural integrity for long periods. Small specimen testing allows characterizing and evaluating these properties in a controlled and efficient manner. Small specimen samples, under conditions similar to those in a fusion reactor, will provide crucial information for the design and development of fusion components when irradiated at IFMIF- DONES. The results of SSTT are used to refine materials, optimize production processes, and develop new materials with improved properties. In this work, numerous tensile tests (SSTT) have been carried out on pure copper, a material of interest for fusion with different thicknesses, analyzing the effect of the variation of this variable in the determination of mechanical properties.