DEUTERIUM TRAPPING AND SPUTTERING OF TUNGSTEN COATINGS EXPOSED TO LOW-ENERGY DEUTERIUM PLASMA

Processes of sputtering, surface modification and deuterium retention of tungsten coatings were studied under the influence of low-energy (500 eV) deuterium plasma with fluence (21024 D+/m2) at room temperature. The method of cathodic arc evaporation was used to deposit W and WN-coatings on stainless steel. Results of erosion studies indicated that the sputtering yields for coatings WN and W are 3.110-3 and 4.810-3 at./ion, respectively, and at least two times larger compared to bulk W but almost an order of magnitude smaller compared to ferritic martensitic steels. The total D retentions of W coatings were on the order of 51019 D/m2 and around one orders of magnitude lower than that of WN.