Ab-initio investigation of mechanical and fracture-related properties of W-Re σ and χ precipitates
Tungsten (W) is a leading candidate for plasma-facing materials in fusion reactors. Recently, experiments have shown that during neutron irradiation, W and its transmutation products, mainly rhenium (Re), will form precipitates of the σ and χ types. This study identifies close-packed planes of the σ - and χ-phases in the W-Re system and uses ab-initio methods to identify mechanical properties such