On the chemical erosion of a carbon first wall proposed for Tokamak devices for controlled nuclear fusion

Preliminary results on the chemical attack of several carbon materials by hydrogen plasma are presented and compared with the literature data on the reaction of hydrogen atoms with carbon in an afterglow. The chemical erosion of silicon carbide and of pyrolytical graphite should not be dangerous for the ignition of fusion assuming that the reaction probability of hydrogen atoms with the particular material would not be increased due to radiation damage of the surface.