**Tungsten-Based Composites for Nuclear Fusion Applications**

Owais A. Waseem and Ho Jin Ryu

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/62434

#### **Abstract**

This chapter provides a comprehensive knowledge about the potential role of tungstenbased composites in fusion reactors and the research work which has been done in this very important area of nuclear materials. The characteristics of tungsten, which make it the most potential candidate for plasma-facing applications, have been presented along with the shortcomings in pure tungsten. The research work that has been done so far in the field of tungsten-based composites to overcome the problems with pure tungsten has been included. The fabrication, characterization, types of reinforcements and the classes of composites have been reviewed. The behavior of tungsten-based composites under various kinds of loads (i.e. mechanical and thermal) and environments (radiations and oxidizing etc.) has been summarized.

**Keywords:** tungsten-based composites, nuclear fusion, plasma-facing materials, metal matrix composites, oxide dispersion
