Abstract
The dimensional stability, elastic modulus, and flexural strength of a high quality, three-dimensional balanced weave carbon fiber composite has been evaluated over a range of neutron fluence to ∼32 dpa at ∼800 °C. Results indicate that while the composite exhibits continuous strengthening over this dose range, this occurs with measurable loss of mass, increased volume, and for the highest dose studied, a large reduction in elastic modulus. While the balanced-weave composite was orthogonally isotropic, a significant anisotropic dimensional change occurred under irradiation. Dimensional change was dominated by fiber dimensional change and the overall shrinkage or swelling in a direction was determined by the extent to which intrinsic fiber shrinkage was capable of restraining swelling of matrix and fiber bundles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 629-632 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
| Volume | 417 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2011 |
Funding
The authors would like to thank Joel McDuffee and Bob Sitterson for their assistance in the materials irradiation. Irradiations were carried out in the Basic Energy Science Sponsored High Flux Isotope Reactor. Research was sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Energy as part of the Generation IV program. Work was carried out at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for US Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle, LLC.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Office of Nuclear Energy |