High energy flux thermo-mechanical test of 1D-carbon-carbon fibre composite prototypes for the SPIDER diagnostic calorimeter.

Operation of the thermonuclear fusion experiment ITER requires additional heating via injection of neutral beams from accelerated negative ions. In the SPIDER test facility, under construction in Padova, the production of negative ions will be studied and optimised. STRIKE (Short-Time Retractable Instrumented Kalorimeter Experiment) is a diagnostic used to characterise the SPIDER beam during short pulse operation (several seconds) to verify if the beam meets the ITER requirements about the maximum allowed beam non-uniformity (below ±10%).

Superhydrophilic and tribological improvements of polymeric surfaces via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition ceramic coatings.

The main object of this study is the treatment of polymeric (PVC, PC) surfaces with the aim of inducing enhanced superhydrophilic characteristics together with nanohardness features; this would allow polymeric surfaces to have longer durability and prevent the accumulation of dirt on the surface which could disable the proper use of these polymeric surfaces. Indeed plastic surfaces are difficult substrates to be covered effectively and functionalized, mainly due to their high sensitivity to heat treatments and irradiation in the UV-Vis range together with their inert behavior. Their functionalization is achieved through the deposition of ceramic coatings such as titania (TiO2), on the polymeric surfaces via PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) at low temperatures.