Alya Musa
University of Oxford
Co-hort year: 2025
My name is Alya A. Musa, and I am a Fusion CDT DPhil student at the University of Oxford in collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bangor. My project is titled “Understanding Phase Decomposition in SMART-W Alloys for Fusion First Wall Applications”, supervised by Dr Tamsin Whitfield, Professor Sergio Lozano-Perez, Dr Eric Prestat (UKAEA), and Dr Tessa Davey (University of Bangor).
SMART-W alloys are of interest for fusion power as they combine the advantages of tungsten’s high melting temperature, resistance to plasma erosion, and minimal long-lived radioactive waste with chromium (Cr) and yttrium (Y), which improve oxidation resistance. However, there is a miscibility gap between W and Cr which can cause phase decomposition at elevated temperatures or during cooling. My research aims to investigate how the microstructure of SMART-W alloys of varying composition (Cr, Y, and Zr content) evolves with thermal exposure and thermal cycling to better understand the lifetime of components made of this material in service. Testing involves heat treatments, microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and evaluating the effects of the resulting microstructures on oxidation, brittleness, and thermal conductivity.
I completed my Bsc in Mechanical Engineering at University of Khartoum, where I developed a strong interest in micromechanics and material failure. I am particularly motivated by understanding how and why materials fail under extreme conditions and how this understanding can be applied to prevent such failures in future fusion energy systems
Supervisors
