Abstract
Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic-based composites continue to be attractive material options for fusion in-vessel components and fission reactor core structures because of their exceptional high-temperature capability and favorable neutronic properties. As performance data accumulates, the limitations of the current generation of nuclear-grade SiC composites are becoming more apparent. These limitations mainly involve strength degradation during high-dose neutron irradiation. This paper discusses several options for improving the performance of the next generation of SiC composites to enhance the radiation resistance, along with new experimental results on neutron irradiation resistance. The main emphasis is on the selection of the fibers and the design and development of alternative interphase layers for advanced composites.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 152375 |
| Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
| Volume | 540 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2020 |
Funding
The study was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fusion Energy Sciences , Fusion Materials Science program , under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle LLC. The US DOE Office of Nuclear Energy , Advanced Fuel Campaign , under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle also supported the research in part, especially the interphase development. The neutron irradiation experiment was partially supported by the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology under contract NFE-10-02779 with UT-Battelle LLC. A portion of this research used resources at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Shay Harrison at Free Form Fiber LLC provided laser chemical vapor–- deposited SiC fibers. The authors wish to thank Frederick Wiffen, Peter Mouche, and Deborah Counce at ORNL for reviewing and editing this manuscript. Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE) . The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ). Notice: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).The study was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, Fusion Materials Science program, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle LLC. The US DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, Advanced Fuel Campaign, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle also supported the research in part, especially the interphase development. The neutron irradiation experiment was partially supported by the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology under contract NFE-10-02779 with UT-Battelle LLC. A portion of this research used resources at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Shay Harrison at Free Form Fiber LLC provided laser chemical vapor?- deposited SiC fibers. The authors wish to thank Frederick Wiffen, Peter Mouche, and Deborah Counce at ORNL for reviewing and editing this manuscript.
Keywords
- Fiber
- Interphase
- Mechanical properties
- Neutron irradiation
- SiC