Retention strength of cobalt-chromium vs nickel-chromium titanium vs Cp titanium in a cast framework association of removable partial overdenture

Aim: There is little information considering the framework association between cast clasps and attachments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retention strength of frameworks match circumferential clasps and extra resilient attachment cast in three different alloys (cobalt-chromium, nickel-chromium titanium and commercially pure titanium), using two undercut (0.25 and 0.75 mm) and considering different period of time (0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years). Methods: Using two metallic matrices, representing a partially edentulous mandibular right hemiarch with the first molar crown, canine root and without premolars, 60 frameworks were fabricated. Three groups (n = 20) of each metal were cast and each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10), corresponding the molar undercut of 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm. The nylon male was positioned at the matrix and attached to the acrylic resin of the prosthetic base. The samples were subjected to an insertion and removal test under artificial saliva environment. Results: The data were analyzed and compared with ANOVAs and Tukey's test at 95% of probability. The groups cast in cobaltchromium and nickel-chromium-titanium had the highest mean retention strength (5.58 N and 6.36 N respectively) without significant difference between them, but statistically different from the group cast in commercially pure titanium, which had the lowest mean retention strength in all the periods (3.46 N). The association frameworks using nickel-chromium-titanium and cobalt-chromium could be used with 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm of undercut, but the titanium samples seems to decrease the retention strength, mainly in the 0.75 mm undercut. The circumferential clasps cast in commercially pure titanium used in 0.75 mm undercuts have a potential risk of fractures, especially after the 2nd year of use. Conclusion: This in vitro study showed that the framework association between cast clasp and an extra resilient attachment are suitable to the three metals evaluated, but strongly suggest extra care with commercially pure titanium in undercut of 0.75 mm. Clinical significance: Frameworks fabricated in Cp Ti tend to decrease in retentive strength over time and have a potential risk of fracture in less than 0.75 mm of undercut.

Reciclagem de cavacos para a formação de carbonetos de titânio no metal de solda produzido por soldagem GTAW em aço-carbono

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Corrosion resistance of Ni-Cr alloys in different mouthwashes

Several alloys have been used for prosthodontics restorations in the last years. These alloys have a number of metals that include gold, palladium, silver, nickel, cobalt, chromium and titanium and they are used in oral cavity undergo several corrosion. Corrosion can lead to poor esthetics, compromise of physical properties, or increased biological irritation. The objective of this study was evaluated corrosion resistance of two alloys Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Ti in three types of mouthwashes with different active ingredients: 0.5g/l cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.05% sodium fluoride, 0.05% sodium fluoride + 0.03% triclosan (with fluor) and 0.12% chlorohexidine digluconate. The potentiodynamic curves were performed by means of an EG&G PAR 283 potentiostat/galvanostat. The counter electrode was a platinum wire and reference electrode was an Ag/AgCl, KCl saturated. Before each experiment, working electrodes were mechanically polished with 600 and 1200 grade papers, rinsed with distilled water and dried in air. All experiments were carried out at 37.0oC in conventional three-compartment double wall glass cell containing mouthwashes. The microstructures of two alloys were observed in optical microscopy. Analysis of curves showed that Ni-Cr alloy was less reactive in the presence of 0.12% chlorohexidine digluconate while Ni-Cr-Ti alloy was more sensitive for others two types of mouthwashes (0.5g/l cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.05% sodium fluoride  and 0.05% sodium fluoride + 0.03% triclosan). This occurred probably due presence of titanium in this alloy. Microstructural analysis reveals the presence of dendritic and eutectic microstructures for NiCr and Ni-Cr-Ti, respectively.

Study of the oxygen vacancy influence on magnetic properties of Fe- and Co-doped SnO2 diluted alloys

Transition-metal (TM)-doped diluted magnetic oxides (DMOs) have attracted attention from both experimental and theoretical points of view due to their potential use in spintronics towards new nanostructured devices and new technologies. In the present work, we study the magnetic properties of Sn0.96TM0.04O2 and Sn0.96TM0.04O1.98(V (O))(0.02), where TM = Fe and Co, focusing in particular in the role played by the presence of O vacancies nearby the TM. The calculated total energy as a function of the total magnetic moment per cell shows a magnetic metastability, corresponding to a ground state, respectively, with 2 and 1 mu(B)/cell, for Fe and Co. Two metastable states, with 0 and 4 mu(B)/cell were found for Fe, and a single value, 3 mu(B)/cell, for Co. The spin-crossover energies (E (S)) were calculated. The values are E (S) (0/2) = 107 meV and E (S) (4/2) = 25 meV for Fe. For Co, E (S) (3/1) = 36 meV. By creating O vacancies close to the TM site, we show that the metastablity and E (S) change. For iron, a new state appears, and the state with zero magnetic moment disappears. The ground state is 4 mu(B)/cell instead of 2 mu(B)/cell, and the energy E (S) (2/4) is 30 meV. For cobalt, the ground state is then found with 3 mu(B)/cell and the metastable state with 1 mu(B)/cell. The spin-crossover energy E (S) (1/3) is 21 meV. Our results suggest that these materials may be used in devices for spintronic applications that require different magnetization states.

TUNGSTEN ISOTOPIC COMPOSITIONS IN STARDUST SiC GRAINS FROM THE MURCHISON METEORITE: CONSTRAINTS ON THE s-PROCESS IN THE Hf-Ta-W-Re-Os REGION

We report the first tungsten isotopic measurements in stardust silicon carbide (SiC) grains recovered from the Murchison carbonaceous chondrite. The isotopes (182,183,184,186)Wand (179,180)Hf were measured on both an aggregate (KJB fraction) and single stardust SiC grains (LS+ LU fraction) believed to have condensed in the outflows of low-mass carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with close-to-solar metallicity. The SiC aggregate shows small deviations from terrestrial (= solar) composition in the (182)W/(184)Wand (183)W/(184)Wratios, with deficits in (182)W and (183)W with respect to (184)W. The (186)W/(184)W ratio, however, shows no apparent deviation from the solar value. Tungsten isotopic measurements in single mainstream stardust SiC grains revealed lower than solar (182)W/(184)W, (183)W/(184)W, and (186)W/(184)W ratios. We have compared the SiC data with theoretical predictions of the evolution of W isotopic ratios in the envelopes of AGB stars. These ratios are affected by the slow neutron-capture process and match the SiC data regarding their (182)W/(184)W, (183)W/(184)W, and (179)Hf/(180)Hf isotopic compositions, although a small adjustment in the s-process production of (183)W is needed in order to have a better agreement between the SiC data and model predictions. The models cannot explain the (186)W/(184)W ratios observed in the SiC grains, even when the current (185)W neutron-capture cross section is increased by a factor of two. Further study is required to better assess how model uncertainties (e. g., the formation of the (13)C neutron source, the mass-loss law, the modeling of the third dredge-up, and the efficiency of the (22)Ne neutron source) may affect current s-process predictions.

Microstructural characterization of as-cast hf-b alloys

An accurate knowledge of several metal-boron phase diagrams is important to evaluation of higher order systems such as metal-silicon-boron ternaries. The refinement and reassessment of phase diagram data is a continuous work, thus the reevaluation of metal-boron systems provides the possibility to confirm previous data from an investigation using higher purity materials and better analytical techniques. This work presents results of rigorous microstructural characterization of as-cast hafnium-boron alloys which are significant to assess the liquid composition associated to most of the invariant reactions of this system. Alloys were prepared by arc melting high purity hafnium (minimum 99.8%) and boron (minimum 99.5%) slices under argon atmosphere in water-cooled copper crucible with non consumable tungsten electrode and titanium getter. The phases were identified by scanning electron microscopy, using back-scattered electron image mode and X-ray diffraction. In general, a good agreement was found between our data and those from the currently accepted Hafnium-Boron phase diagram. The phases identified are αHfSS and B-RhomSS, the intermediate compounds HfB and HfB2 and the liquide L. The reactions are the eutectic L ⇔ αHfSS + HfB and L ⇔ HfB2 + B-Rhom, the peritectic L + HfB2 ⇔ HfB and the congruent formation of HfB2.

Tool wear evaluations in friction stir processing of commercial titanium Ti–6Al–4V

This research addresses the application of friction stir welding (FWS) of titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V. Friction stir welding is a recent process, developed in the 1990s for aluminum joining; this joining process is being increasingly applied in many industries from basic materials, such as steel alloys, to high performance alloys, such as titanium. It is a process in great development and has its economic advantages when compared to conventional welding. For high performance alloys such as titanium, a major problem to overcome is the construction of tools that can withstand the extreme process environment. In the literature, the possibilities approached are only few tungsten alloys. Early experiments with tools made of cemented carbide (WC) showed optimistic results consistent with the literature. It was initially thought that WC tools may be an option to the FSW process since it is possible to improve the wear resistance of the tool. The metallographic analysis of the welds did not show primary defects of voids (tunneling) or similar internal defects due to processing, only defects related to tool wear which can cause loss of weld quality. The severe tool wear caused loss of surface quality and inclusions of fragments inside the joining, which should be corrected or mitigated by means of coating techniques on tool, or the replacement of cemented carbide with tungsten alloys, as found in the literature.

The Testing and Concentration of a Tungsten Ore

At the present time the principal uses for tungsten lie in the manufacture of ferro-alloys and tungsten steels. Due to it’s hardening and strengthening characteristics it holds an important position among steel hardening metals. The great rush for it’s production during the World War years clearly points to it’s importance in the manufacture of armament.

Some Preliminary Investiagtions of the Magnetic Permeabilities of Alloys of the Ferromagnetic Metals

The problem presented for this thesis was an investigation of the magnetic properties of the alloys produced by the methods of powder metallurgy. The question behind this was the correlation of the magnetic properties with the bonding properties and with the diffusion of the constituents.

Deformation Studies of Tungsten-Gold Contacts at the Nanometer Scale.

The deformation behavior of atomically clean, nanometer sized tungsten / gold contacts was studied at room temperature in ultra-high vacuum. An instrument that combines atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and field ion microscopy (FIM) into a single experimental apparatus was designed, constructed, and calibrated. A cross-hair force sensor having a spring constant of - 442 N/m was developed and its motion was monitored during indentation experiments with a differential interferometer. Tungsten tips of controlled size (12.8 nm < tip radius < 2 1.6 nm) were first shaped and characterized using FIM and then indented into a Au (1 10) single crystal to depths ranging from 1.5 nrn to 18 nm using the force sensor. Continuum mechanics models were found to be valid in predicting elastic deformation during initial contact and plastic zone depths despite our small size regime. Multiple discrete yielding events lasting < 1.5 ms were observed during the plastic deformation regime; at the yield points a maximum value for the principal shear stress was measured to be 5 + 1 GPa. During tip withdrawal, "pop-out" events relating to material relaxation within the contact were observed. Adhesion between the tip and sample led to experimental signatures that suggest neck formation prior to the break of contact. STM images of indentation holes revealed various shapes that can be attributed to the (1 1 1 ) (1 10) crystallographic slip system in gold. FIM images of the tip after indentation showed no evidence of tip damage

(Table 1) Contents of tungsten and other metals in Fe-Mn nodules from the Pacific Ocean

Tungsten contents in iron-manganese nodules and crusts from different parts of the World Ocean, as well as its relationships with a number of chemical elements are under consideration. A trend to correlation of tungsten with Fe, Ti, W, Pb, and Co is noticed. Comparison of tungsten contents in the nodules and host sediments indicates its low geochemical mobility.

Recent progress in research on tungsten materials for nuclear fusion applications in Europe

The current magnetic confinement nuclear fusion power reactor concepts going beyond ITER are based on assumptions about the availability of materials with extreme mechanical, heat, and neutron load capacity. In Europe, the development of such structural and armour materials together with the necessary production, machining, and fabrication technologies is pursued within the EFDA long-term fusion materials programme. This paper reviews the progress of work within the programme in the area of tungsten and tungsten alloys. Results, conclusions, and future projections are summarized for each of the programme´s main subtopics, which are: (1) fabrication, (2) structural W materials, (3) W armour materials, and (4) materials science and modelling. It gives a detailed overview of the latest results on materials research, fabrication processes, joining options, high heat flux testing, plasticity studies, modelling, and validation experiments.

Multiscale modeling of the plastic behaviour in single crystal tungsten: from atomistic to crystal plasticity simulations

En una planta de fusión, los materiales en contacto con el plasma así como los materiales de primera pared experimentan condiciones particularmente hostiles al estar expuestos a altos flujos de partículas, neutrones y grandes cargas térmicas. Como consecuencia de estas diferentes y complejas condiciones de trabajo, el estudio, desarrollo y diseño de estos materiales es uno de los más importantes retos que ha surgido en los últimos años para la comunidad científica en el campo de los materiales y la energía. Debido a su baja tasa de erosión, alta resistencia al sputtering, alta conductividad térmica, muy alto punto de fusión y baja retención de tritio, el tungsteno (wolframio) es un importante candidato como material de primera pared y como posible material estructural avanzado en fusión por confinamiento magnético e inercial. Sin embargo, el tiempo de vida del tungsteno viene controlado por diversos factores como son su respuesta termo-mecánica en la superficie, la posibilidad de fusión y el fallo por acumulación de helio. Es por ello que el tiempo de vida limitado por la respuesta mecánica del tungsteno (W), y en particular su fragilidad, sean dos importantes aspectos que tienes que ser investigados. El comportamiento plástico en materiales refractarios con estructura cristalina cúbica centrada en las caras (bcc) como el tungsteno está gobernado por las dislocaciones de tipo tornillo a escala atómica y por conjuntos e interacciones de dislocaciones a escalas más grandes. El modelado de este complejo comportamiento requiere la aplicación de métodos capaces de resolver de forma rigurosa cada una de las escalas. El trabajo que se presenta en esta tesis propone un modelado multiescala que es capaz de dar respuestas ingenieriles a las solicitudes técnicas del tungsteno, y que a su vez está apoyado por la rigurosa física subyacente a extensas simulaciones atomísticas. En primer lugar, las propiedades estáticas y dinámicas de las dislocaciones de tipo tornillo en cinco potenciales interatómicos de tungsteno son comparadas, determinando cuáles de ellos garantizan una mayor fidelidad física y eficiencia computacional. Las grandes tasas de deformación asociadas a las técnicas de dinámica molecular hacen que las funciones de movilidad de las dislocaciones obtenidas no puedan ser utilizadas en los siguientes pasos del modelado multiescala. En este trabajo, proponemos dos métodos alternativos para obtener las funciones de movilidad de las dislocaciones: un modelo Monte Cario cinético y expresiones analíticas. El conjunto de parámetros necesarios para formular el modelo de Monte Cario cinético y la ley de movilidad analítica son calculados atomísticamente. Estos parámetros incluyen, pero no se limitan a: la determinación de las entalpias y energías de formación de las parejas de escalones que forman las dislocaciones, la parametrización de los efectos de no Schmid característicos en materiales bcc,etc. Conociendo la ley de movilidad de las dislocaciones en función del esfuerzo aplicado y la temperatura, se introduce esta relación como ecuación de flujo dentro de un modelo de plasticidad cristalina. La predicción del modelo sobre la dependencia del límite de fluencia con la temperatura es validada experimentalmente con ensayos uniaxiales en tungsteno monocristalino. A continuación, se calcula el límite de fluencia al aplicar ensayos uniaxiales de tensión para un conjunto de orientaciones cristalográticas dentro del triángulo estándar variando la tasa de deformación y la temperatura de los ensayos. Finalmente, y con el objetivo de ser capaces de predecir una respuesta más dúctil del tungsteno para una variedad de estados de carga, se realizan ensayos biaxiales de tensión sobre algunas de las orientaciones cristalográficas ya estudiadas en función de la temperatura.-------------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT ----------------------------------------------------------Tungsten and tungsten alloys are being considered as leading candidates for structural and functional materials in future fusion energy devices. The most attractive properties of tungsten for the design of magnetic and inertial fusion energy reactors are its high melting point, high thermal conductivity, low sputtering yield and low longterm disposal radioactive footprint. However, tungsten also presents a very low fracture toughness, mostly associated with inter-granular failure and bulk plasticity, that limits its applications. As a result of these various and complex conditions of work, the study, development and design of these materials is one of the most important challenges that have emerged in recent years to the scientific community in the field of materials for energy applications. The plastic behavior of body-centered cubic (bcc) refractory metals like tungsten is governed by the kink-pair mediated thermally activated motion of h¿ (\1 11)i screw dislocations on the atomistic scale and by ensembles and interactions of dislocations at larger scales. Modeling this complex behavior requires the application of methods capable of resolving rigorously each relevant scale. The work presented in this thesis proposes a multiscale model approach that gives engineering-level responses to the technical specifications required for the use of tungsten in fusion energy reactors, and it is also supported by the rigorous underlying physics of extensive atomistic simulations. First, the static and dynamic properties of screw dislocations in five interatomic potentials for tungsten are compared, determining which of these ensure greater physical fidelity and computational efficiency. The large strain rates associated with molecular dynamics techniques make the dislocation mobility functions obtained not suitable to be used in the next steps of the multiscale model. Therefore, it is necessary to employ mobility laws obtained from a different method. In this work, we suggest two alternative methods to get the dislocation mobility functions: a kinetic Monte Carlo model and analytical expressions. The set of parameters needed to formulate the kinetic Monte Carlo model and the analytical mobility law are calculated atomistically. These parameters include, but are not limited to: enthalpy and energy barriers of kink-pairs as a function of the stress, width of the kink-pairs, non-Schmid effects ( both twinning-antitwinning asymmetry and non-glide stresses), etc. The function relating dislocation velocity with applied stress and temperature is used as the main source of constitutive information into a dislocation-based crystal plasticity framework. We validate the dependence of the yield strength with the temperature predicted by the model against existing experimental data of tensile tests in singlecrystal tungsten, with excellent agreement between the simulations and the measured data. We then extend the model to a number of crystallographic orientations uniformly distributed in the standard triangle and study the effects of temperature and strain rate. Finally, we perform biaxial tensile tests and provide the yield surface as a function of the temperature for some of the crystallographic orientations explored in the uniaxial tensile tests.

Microstructural and mechanical characterization of tungsten based materials for fusion reactors

El wolframio (W) y sus aleaciones se consideran los mejores candidatos para la construcción del divertor en la nueva generación de reactores de fusión nuclear. Este componente va a recibir las cargas térmicas más elevadas durante el funcionamiento del reactor ya que estará en contacto directo con el plasma. En los últimos años, después de un profundo análisis y siguiendo una estrategia de reducción de costes, la Organización de ITER tomó la decisión de construir el divertor integramente de wolframio desde el principio. Por ello, el wolframio no sólo actuará como material en contacto con el plasma (PFM), sino que también tendría aplicaciones estructurales. El wolframio, debido a sus excelentes propiedades termo-físicas, cumple todos los requerimientos para ser utilizado como PFM, sin embargo, su inherente fragilidad pone en peligro su uso estructural. Por tanto, uno de los principales objetivos de esta tesis es encontrar una aleación de wolframio con menor fragilidad. Durante éste trabajo, se realizó la caracterización microstructural y mecánica de diferentes materiales basados en wolframio. Sin embargo, ésta tarea es un reto debido a la pequeña cantidad de material suministrado, su reducido tamaño de grano y fragilidad. Por ello, para una correcta medida de todas las propiedades físicas y mecánicas se utilizaron diversas técnicas experimentales. Algunas de ellas se emplean habitualmente como la nanoindentación o los ensayos de flexión en tres puntos (TPB). Sin embargo, otras fueron especificamente desarrolladas e implementadas durante el desarrollo de esta tesis como es el caso de la medida real de la tenacidad de fractura en los materiales masivos, o de las medidas in situ de la tenacidad de fractura en las láminas delgadas de wolframio. Diversas composiciones de aleaciones de wolframio masivas (W-1% Y2O3, W-2% V-0.5% Y2O3, W-4% V-0.5% Y2O3, W-2% Ti-1% La2O3 y W-4% Ti-1% La2O3) se han estudiado y comparado con un wolframio puro producido en las mismas condiciones. Estas aleaciones, producidas por ruta pulvimetalúrgica de aleado mecánico (MA) y compactación isostática en caliente (HIP), fueron microstructural y mecánicamente caracterizadas desde 77 hasta 1473 K en aire y en alto vacío. Entre otras propiedades físicas y mecánicas se midieron la dureza, el módulo elástico, la resistencia a flexión y la tenacidad de fractura para todas las aleaciones. Finalmente se analizaron las superficies de fractura después de los ensayos de TPB para relacionar los micromecanismos de fallo con el comportamiento macroscópico a rotura. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron un comportamiento mecánico frágil en casi todo el intervalo de temperaturas y para casi todas las aleaciones sin mejoría de la temperatura de transición dúctil-frágil (DBTT). Con el fin de encontrar un material base wolframio con una DBTT más baja se realizó también un estudio, aún preliminar, de láminas delgadas de wolframio puro y wolframio dopado con 0.005wt.% potasio (K). Éstas láminas fueron fabricadas industrialmente mediante sinterizado y laminación en caliente y en frío y se sometieron posteriormente a un tratamiento térmico de recocido desde 1073 hasta 2673 K. Se ha analizado la evolución de su microestructura y las propiedades mecánicas al aumentar la temperatura de recocido. Los resultados mostraron la estabilización de los granos de wolframio con el incremento de la temperatura de recocido en las láminas delgadas de wolframio dopado con potasio. Sin embargo, es necesario realizar estudios adicionales para entender mejor la microstructura y algunas propiedades mecánicas de estos materiales, como la tenacidad de fractura. Tungsten (W) and tungsten-based alloys are considered to be the best candidate materials for fabricating the divertor in the next-generation nuclear fusion reactors. This component will experience the highest thermal loads during the operation of a reactor since it directly faces the plasma. In recent years, after thorough analysis that followed a strategy of cost reduction, the ITER Organization decided to built a full-tunsgten divertor before the first nuclear campaigns. Therefore, tungsten will be used not only as a plasma-facing material (PFM) but also in structural applications. Tungsten, due to its the excellent thermo-physical properties fulfils the requirements of a PFM, however, its use in structural applications is compromised due to its inherent brittleness. One of the objectives of this phD thesis is therefore, to find a material with improved brittleness behaviour. The microstructural and mechanical characterisation of different tunsgten-based materials was performed. However, this is a challenging task because of the reduced laboratory-scale size of the specimens provided, their _ne microstructure and their brittleness. Consequently, many techniques are required to ensure an accurate measurement of all the mechanical and physical properties. Some of the applied methods have been widely used such as nanoindentation or three-point bending (TPB) tests. However, other methods were specifically developed and implemented during this work such as the measurement of the real fracture toughness of bulk-tunsgten alloys or the in situ fracture toughness measurements of very thin tungsten foils. Bulk-tunsgten materials with different compositions (W-1% Y2O3, W-2% V- 0.5% Y2O3, W-4% V-0.5% Y2O3, W-2% Ti-1% La2O3 and W-4% Ti-1% La2O3) were studied and compared with pure tungsten processed under the same conditions. These alloys, produced by a powder metallurgical route of mechanical alloying (MA) and hot isostatic pressing (HIP), were microstructural and mechanically characterised from 77 to 1473 K in air and under high vacuum conditions. Hardness, elastic modulus, flexural strength and fracture toughness for all of the alloys were measured in addition to other physical and mechanical properties. Finally, the fracture surfaces after the TPB tests were analysed to correlate the micromechanisms of failure with the macroscopic behaviour. The results reveal brittle mechanical behaviour in almost the entire temperature range for the alloys and micromechanisms of failure with no improvement in the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). To continue the search of a tungsten material with lowered DBTT, a preliminary study of pure tunsgten and 0.005 wt.% potassium (K)-doped tungsten foils was also performed. These foils were industrially produced by sintering and hot and cold rolling. After that, they were annealed from 1073 to 2673 K to analyse the evolution of the microstructural and mechanical properties with increasing annealing temperature. The results revealed the stabilisation of the tungsten grains with increasing annealing temperature in the potassium-doped tungsten foil. However, additional studies need to be performed to gain a better understanding of the microstructure and mechanical properties of these materials such as fracture toughness.

The effects of tantalum addition on the microtexture and mechanical behaviour of tungsten for ITER applications

Tungsten (W) and its alloys are very promising materials for producing plasma-facing components (PFCs) in the fusion power reactors of the near future, even as a structural part in them. However, whereas the properties of pure tungsten are suitable for a PFC, its structural applications are still limited due to its low toughness, ductile to brittle transition temperature and recrystallization behaviour. Therefore, many efforts have been made to improve its performance by alloying tungsten with other elements. Hence, in this investigation, the thermo-mechanical performance of two new tungsten-tantalum materials has been evaluated. Materials with We5wt.%Ta and We15wt.%Ta were processed by mechanical alloying (MA) and later consolidation by hot isostatic pressing (HIP), with distinct settings for each composition. Thus, it was possible to determine the relationship between the microstructure and the addition of Ta with the macroscopic mechanical properties. These were measured by means of hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness, in the temperature range of 300e1473 K. The microstructure and the fracture surfaces features of the tested materials were analysed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM).