A set of V–(4–8)Cr–(0–4)Ti alloys was fabricated to survey an optimum composition to reduce the radioactivity of V–Cr–Ti alloys. These alloys were subjected to nano-indenter tests before and after 2-MeV He-ion irradiation at 500 °C and 700 °C with 0.5 dpa at peak damage to investigate the effect of Cr and Ti addition and gas impurities for irradiation hardening behavior in V–Cr–Ti alloys. Cr and Ti addition to V–Cr–Ti alloys for solid–solution hardening remains small in the unirradiated V–(4–8)Cr–(0–4)Ti alloys. Irradiation hardening occurred for all V–Cr–Ti alloys. The V–4Cr–1Ti alloy shows the highest irradiation hardening among all V–Cr–Ti alloys and the gas impurity was enhanced to increase the irradiation hardening. These results may arise from the formation of Ti(CON) precipitate that was produced by He-ion irradiation. Irradiation hardening of V–Cr–1Ti did not depend significantly on Cr addition. Consequently, for irradiation hardening and void-swelling suppression, the optimum composition of V–Cr–Ti alloys for structural materials of fusion reactor engineering is proposed to be a highly purified V–(6–8)Cr–2Ti alloy.

Negative effect from low coke rate operation at cohesive zone is obvious because it makes thinning of coke slit thickness. Correct knowledge about gas permeability of cohesive layer is becoming more and more important. In order to precisely understand cohesive behaviour, a softening and melting simulator under rapid heating and quenching conditions was applied for clarify a determinant factor of gas permeability behaviour. To focus on softening and melting behaviour, granulated slag particle bed layer without iron oxide was prepared as packed bed sample layer can show softening and melting. The packed bed slag samples in graphite crucible were rapidly heated up to 1 200°C, and then gradually heated up to 1 500°C with 10°C/min under inert gas atmosphere and 0.1 MPa load. Gas pressure drop and shrinkage degree of the sample layer were measured during the softening and melting test, and quenched sample was made at certain temperature when the maximum gas pressure drop was measured. The CT observation of the quenched sample provided 3D shape information of gas path shape in sample packed bed. Gas pressure drop was estimated with fanning's equation with the gas path information. The estimation values were shown positive correlation with measured maximum pressure drop. The CT observation also gave triple line length among molten slag, graphite, and gas. Combination the triple line length and molten slag surface tension could use for evaluation of static force balance when maximum pressure drop obtained.

V–4Cr–xTi (x = 0 to 4) alloys were used to investigate the additional effect of Cr, Ti and interstitial impurities on the microstructural evolution in He-irradiated V–Cr–Ti alloys to minimize radioactivity after fusion neutron irradiation. Transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography were carried out to the He-irradiated specimens at 500 °C with 0.5 dpa at peak damage. A flash electro-polishing method for the FIB-extracted specimen was established for the ion-irradiated vanadium alloys. The microstructural evolution of the irradiation-induced titanium-oxycarbonitride, Ti(CON) precipitates was observed and was influenced by the effect of Ti addition on the Ti(CON) precipitation. Apparent Ti(CON) precipitates formed in V-4Cr-xTi with 2% addition of Ti. In the V-4Cr-1Ti alloy, a high density Ti enriched cluster was formed. The origin of the irradiation hardening increase resulted from the size distribution of Ti(CON) precipitation from the dispersed barrier-hardening theory.

Negative effect from low coke rate operation at cohesive zone is obvious because it makes thinning of coke slit thickness. Correct knowledge about gas permeability of cohesive layer is becoming more and more important. In order to precisely understand cohesive behaviour, a softening and melting simulator under rapid heating and quenching conditions was applied for clarify a determinant factor of gas permeability behaviour. To focus on softening and melting behaviour, granulated slag particle bed layer without iron oxide was prepared as packed bed sample layer can show softening and melting. The packed bed slag samples in graphite crucible were rapidly heated up to 1200°C, and then gradually heated up to 1500°C with 10°C/min under inert gas atmosphere and 0.1 MPa load. Gas pressure drop and shrinkage degree of the sample layer were measured during the softening and melting test, and quenched sample was made at certain temperature when the maximum gas pressure drop was measured. The CT observation of the quenched sample provided 3D shape information of gas path shape in sample packed bed. Gas pressure drop was estimated with fanning's equation with the gas path information. The estimation values were shown positive correlation with measured maximum pressure drop. The CT observation also gave triple line length among molten slag, graphite, and gas. Combination the triple line length and molten slag surface tension could use for evaluation of static force balance when maximum pressure drop obtained.