Effects of high-dose neutron irradiation at light-water reactor relevant temperature on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites

Yuki Jimba; Takaaki Koyanagi; Yutai Katoh

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156869

Effects of high-dose neutron irradiation at light-water reactor relevant temperature on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites

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Abstract

The neutron dose-dependent evolutions and the underlying mechanisms of properties of SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites at a temperature relevant to light-water reactors (∼600 K) were investigated and analyzed. Chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC/SiC composites reinforced with Hi-Nicalon Type S or Tyranno SA3 fiber were neutron-irradiated to doses up to 30 dpa. The irradiated composites retained their flexural strengths. The thermal diffusivity and dimensional changes were mostly retained from 2.0 to 30.2 dpa. Discrepancies in irradiation responses among CVI SiC/SiC composites from different sources were found. Additional microstructural analysis using Raman spectroscopy and numerical analysis on irradiation effect on residual stress were used to explain how the microstructural variables, especially of carbon interphases, affect the mechanical properties in the 30–40 dpa dose range.

Original language	English
Article number	156869
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	632
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156869
State	Published - Oct 2026

Funding

This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, Advanced Fuels Campaign under Contract No DE-AC05-00OR22725 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 (ORNL). A part of the postirradiation mechanical testing was also supported by the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07–051D14517 as part of an award provided by the Nuclear Science User Facilities program (Project ID: 18–1539). The authors wish to thank Ercan Cakmak, Benjamin W. Lamm, and Erica Heinrich at ORNL for reviewing and editing this manuscript. The authors thank Patricia S. Tedder and Stephanie Curlin at ORNL for their contribution to material characterizations. The authors thank Valencia Ramirez at Georgia Institute of Technology for technical assistance in fiber diameter measurement.

Keywords

Continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite
Fiber/matrix interface
Light-water reactor
Neutron irradiation
Silicon carbide

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10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156869

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title = "Effects of high-dose neutron irradiation at light-water reactor relevant temperature on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites",

abstract = "The neutron dose-dependent evolutions and the underlying mechanisms of properties of SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites at a temperature relevant to light-water reactors (∼600 K) were investigated and analyzed. Chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC/SiC composites reinforced with Hi-Nicalon Type S or Tyranno SA3 fiber were neutron-irradiated to doses up to 30 dpa. The irradiated composites retained their flexural strengths. The thermal diffusivity and dimensional changes were mostly retained from 2.0 to 30.2 dpa. Discrepancies in irradiation responses among CVI SiC/SiC composites from different sources were found. Additional microstructural analysis using Raman spectroscopy and numerical analysis on irradiation effect on residual stress were used to explain how the microstructural variables, especially of carbon interphases, affect the mechanical properties in the 30–40 dpa dose range.",

keywords = "Continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite, Fiber/matrix interface, Light-water reactor, Neutron irradiation, Silicon carbide",

author = "Yuki Jimba and Takaaki Koyanagi and Yutai Katoh",

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T1 - Effects of high-dose neutron irradiation at light-water reactor relevant temperature on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites

AU - Jimba, Yuki

AU - Koyanagi, Takaaki

AU - Katoh, Yutai

PY - 2026/10

Y1 - 2026/10

N2 - The neutron dose-dependent evolutions and the underlying mechanisms of properties of SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites at a temperature relevant to light-water reactors (∼600 K) were investigated and analyzed. Chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC/SiC composites reinforced with Hi-Nicalon Type S or Tyranno SA3 fiber were neutron-irradiated to doses up to 30 dpa. The irradiated composites retained their flexural strengths. The thermal diffusivity and dimensional changes were mostly retained from 2.0 to 30.2 dpa. Discrepancies in irradiation responses among CVI SiC/SiC composites from different sources were found. Additional microstructural analysis using Raman spectroscopy and numerical analysis on irradiation effect on residual stress were used to explain how the microstructural variables, especially of carbon interphases, affect the mechanical properties in the 30–40 dpa dose range.

AB - The neutron dose-dependent evolutions and the underlying mechanisms of properties of SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites at a temperature relevant to light-water reactors (∼600 K) were investigated and analyzed. Chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC/SiC composites reinforced with Hi-Nicalon Type S or Tyranno SA3 fiber were neutron-irradiated to doses up to 30 dpa. The irradiated composites retained their flexural strengths. The thermal diffusivity and dimensional changes were mostly retained from 2.0 to 30.2 dpa. Discrepancies in irradiation responses among CVI SiC/SiC composites from different sources were found. Additional microstructural analysis using Raman spectroscopy and numerical analysis on irradiation effect on residual stress were used to explain how the microstructural variables, especially of carbon interphases, affect the mechanical properties in the 30–40 dpa dose range.

KW - Continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite

KW - Fiber/matrix interface

KW - Light-water reactor

KW - Neutron irradiation

KW - Silicon carbide

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043502253

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DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2026.156869

M3 - Article

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SN - 0022-3115

VL - 632

JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials

JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials

M1 - 156869

ER -

Effects of high-dose neutron irradiation at light-water reactor relevant temperature on the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites

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