Dynamic assessment of direct-current mobility in field-assisted sintered oxide dispersion-strengthened V-4Cr-4Ti alloys

Vanadium alloy is one of the potential candidate material for structural applications in a commercial fusion reactor. Extended survival of a structural material has a direct consequence on the net energy produced in a fusion reaction, it is important to develop ultra-functional materials with tailored microstructures, to meet the harsh fusion environments. Microstructure of material, indeed depend upon the thermodynamics and kinetics of material processing.

Aiming to meet the harsh fusion conditions, we have developed oxide dispersion strengthened V-4Cr-4Ti alloys by high energy ball milling and field assisted sintering technique. Possible microstructural, morphological aftermaths observed in ball milled yttria dispersed V-4Cr-4Ti powders is explored.

Electron microscopy and laser particle analysis acknowledge that yttria addition aids powder agglomeration during ball milling. Ball milled powder was then consolidated (to a relative density of ~100%) using field assisted sintering technique, under optimal sintering conditions. Densification profile has implied that heterogeneous powder characteristic (apparent particle size and shape of powder) tends to impede the direct-current conductivity across the powder particle during various stages of field assisted sintering. In order to understand the kinetics of the field assisted sintering process on the starting powders, a new method was developed to compute the activation energy required for the direct-current conductivity across the individual powder particles. Relatively higher activation energy (for direct-current conductivity) is required for sintering yttria dispersed V-4Cr-4Ti powder than its V-4Cr-4Ti counterpart.

Quantitative dynamic sintering kinetics analysis of FAST processed vanadium alloys