Large-area boron carbide protective coatings for controlled thermonuclear research prepared byin situ plasma CVD

Impurity release from the first wall and components facing the hot plasma in Tokamak devices for controlled fusion research and the concomitant pollution of the plasma lead to enhanced energy losses and deuterium-tritium luel dilution. Both these effects can prevent reaching the ignition conditions. The recently developed technique for large areain situ deposition of boron carbide protective coatings by means of plasma-induced chemical vapor deposition enables one to significantly improve the purity of the fusion plasma. The prospects of approaching the scientific break-even in the large machines of the Tokarnak type has been increased.Extended version of an invited paper presented at the 10th International Symposium on Boron, Borides, and Related Compounds, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 1990.The term Tokarnak is an abbreviation of the Russian name toroidal magnetic chamber.