Evaluation of damage tolerance of advanced SiC/SiC composites after neutron irradiation

Kazumi Ozawa, Yutai Katoh, Takashi Nozawa, Tatsuya Hinoki, Lance L. Snead

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Silicon carbide composites (SiC/SiC) are attractive candidate materials for structural and functional components in fusion energy systems. The effect of neutron irradiation on damage tolerance of the nuclear grade SiC/SiC composites (plain woven Hi-Nicalon Type-S reinforced CVI matrix composites multilayer interphase and unidirectional Tyranno-SA3 reinforced NITE matrix with carbon mono-layer interphase) was evaluated by means of miniaturized single-edged notched beam test. No significant changes in crack extension behavior and in the load-loadpoint displacement characteristics such as the peak load and hysteresis loop width were observed after irradiation to 5.9 × 10 25 n/m2 (E > 0.1 MeV) at 800°C and to 5.8 × 1025 n/m2 at 1300°C. By applying a global energy balance analysis based on non-linear fracture mechanics, the energy release rate for these composite materials was found to be unchanged by irradiation with a value of 3±2 kJ/m2. This has led to the conclusion that, for these fairly aggressive irradiation conditions, the effect of neutron irradiation on the fracture resistance of these composites appears insignificant.

Original languageEnglish
Article number162005
JournalIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Volume18
Issue numberSYMPOSIUM 10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Event3rd International Congress on Ceramics, ICC 2011 - Osaka, Japan
Duration: Nov 14 2010Nov 18 2010

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