Microstructure and thermal properties of unalloyed tungsten deposited by Wire plus Arc Additive Manufacture

Tungsten is considered as one of the most promising materials for nuclear fusion reactor chamber applications. Wire + Arc Additive Manufacture has already demonstrated the ability to deposit defect-free large-scale tungsten structures, with considerable deposition rates. In this study, the microstructure of the as-deposited and heat-treated material has been characterized; it featured mainly large elongated grains for both conditions. The heat treatment at 1273 K for 6 h had a negligible effect on microstructure and on thermal diffusivity. Furthermore, the linear coefficient of thermal expansion was in the range of 4.5 x 10(-6) mu m m(-1) K-1 to 6.8 x 10(-6) mu m m(-1) K-1; the density of the deposit was as high as 99.4% of the theoretical tungsten density; the thermal diffusivity and the thermal conductivity were measured and calculated, respectively, and seen to decrease considerably in the temperature range between 300 K and 1300 K, for both testing conditions. These results showed that Wire + Arc Additive Manufacture can be considered as a suitable technology for the production of tungsten components for the nuclear sector. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.