Tungsten-vanadium-yttria alloys for fusion power reactors (II): Mechanical characterization

The results show improvement of the mechanical properties in the entire temperature range from the addition of V and Y2O3 to W. The formation of a W-V solid solution benefits the conglomeration of the material and drastically reduces porosity, whereas Y2O3 helps to stabilise high-temperature degradation. The combination of both alloying elements creates a synergistic effect that triples the microhardness and flexural strength values in comparison with pure W produced by the same powder metallurgy route.