JSC “NIKIET”, Moscow, Russia:

A. A. Suvorova, Second Category Engineer, e-mail: suvorova@nikiet.ru
I. V. Danilov, Deputy Chief Designer on Nuclear and Physical Systems of ITER, Head of Department, e-mail: danilov@nikiet.ru
G. M. Kalinin, Chief Researcher, e-mail: gmk@nikiet.ru
A. B. Korostelev, Professor, Head of Department, e-mail: korostelev@nikiet.ru

The Cu – Cr – Zr alloy in the state after hardening and ageing was proposed as the heat-conducting layer in the construction of panels of the first wall and connectors of the ITER blanket. According to ITER specifications, hardening is conducted at the temperature of 980 ^оC and holding for 30 minutes, and the subsequent cooling in water. Ageing is conducted at the temperature of 475 ^оC and holding for 3 hours. As regards the construction elements, operating in different conditions, it is necessary to correct the metrical processing regimes in order to enhance the alloy’s exploitation properties. The actual parameters of the metrical processing may differ from the recommended regime as a result of metrical impact at production of the construction elements. In this respect, the alloy’s properties may significantly differ from the values that are stated in ITER’s documentation. Consequently, it is of a practical importance to research the influence of various metrical-processing regimes (including the ageing parameters) on the Cu – Cr – Zr alloy‘s properties. The given study is dedicated to researching the influence of heating at the temperatures of 350–750 ^оC and the period of ageing from 5 to 10 minutes on the physicо-mechanical properties and the structure of the Cu – Cr – Zr alloy.

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