Characterization of the Crack and Recrystallization of W/Cu Monoblocks of the Upper Divertor in EAST

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The topic and the intention of the paper to characterize the damage caused by heat flux in W/Cu monoblocks as plasma facing material is quite interesting. However, the work presents a low novelty in terms of techniques and experiments carried out to study W/Cu monoblocks. Furthermore, some revisions have to be done before considering the paper for publication:

1. An extensive check of English is required. Grammar, style and syntax needs to be corrected. Many repetitions have to be eliminated to make the work more fluid.

 2. The scale bar of Figures 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11 have to be improved.

3. Some images at higher magnification of figures 3b, 3c and 3d are necessary to show the recrystallization phenomenon described in the text.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

In the following manuscript the authors are studding about “Characterization on the crack and recrystallization of W/Cu monoblocks of upper divertor in EAST”. Authors have investigated experimentally characterized the microstructure and damage of the upper divertor components in EAST by metallography, EBSD and SEM. They are discussing about under the synergistic effect of heat load and plasma irradiation, cracking, recrystallization, and interface debonding found in the components of the upper divertor target. And suggesting the crack propagation mode is an intergranular fracture. EBSD results indicating that the range of recrystallization area is determined by the heat flux distribution. This article will be important for the applied science scientific community. Therefore, I recommend the paper for publication in Applied Sciences with no comment. 

Author Response

Thank you for your review and comments.

Reviewer 3 Report

In the present paper, wide-range recrystallization and deep crack formation in W/Cu monoblocks used as divertor in EAST were reported. The debonding of interfaces at W/Cu and Cu/CuCrZr were also shown.

However, quantitative information on heat load, crystallization temperature and so on was not described. It was not mentioned whether the monoblocks were cooled or not. It is recommended to add these explanations.

In Figure 7, the unit of maximum crack length should be micrometers, I think.

Other points I noticed were shown in attached pdf.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

Very interesting paper. Some missing information.

1) Please explain the units issue.

2) Please explain the origin of the problem in the introduction. Briefly describe the location of the device and the policy of the problem.

3) No affiliation.

Information in the attached file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Thank you very much for your revision. I think this paper is acceptable in the present form.

Author Response

Thank you for your review and comments.

Reviewer 4 Report

Very interesting and interesting paper. Graphics quality is still poor.

Author Response

Thank you for your suggestions. We apologize for the poor quality of the graphics. We will upload higher-quality graphics in this revision.