Fusion reactor first wall fabrication techniques

Casting and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) techniques are attractive for the fabrication of internally cooled complex shape components. Their applications to fusion first wall (FW) components are currently considered: advantages and drawbacks of such techniques are reviewed. In order to (i) improve the reliability of the manufacturing and the performance of the component and (ii) reduce the cost of the fabrication, a combined powder/solid HIP processes is proposed: progresses made in the design and manufacturing of demonstration mock-ups using this technique are presented. In addition, the technical and metallurgical issues are identified and discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.