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Title: Synthesis and Analysis of Alpha Silicon Carbide Components for Encapsulation of Fuel Rods and Pellets

Abstract

The chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of silicon carbide (SiC) along with its low neutron activation and stability in a radiation field make it an attractive material for encapsulating fuel rods and fuel pellets. The alpha phase (6H) is particularly stable. Unfortunately, it requires very high temperature processing and is not readily available in fibers or near-net shapes. This paper describes an investigation to fabricate a-SiC as thin films, fibers and near-net-shape products by direct conversion of carbon using silicon monoxide vapor at temperatures less than 1700 C. In addition, experiments to nucleate the alpha phase during pyrolysis of polysilazane, are also described. Structure and composition were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Preliminary tensile property analysis of fibers was also performed.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
DOE - NE
OSTI Identifier:
1032080
Report Number(s):
INL/CON-11-21765
TRN: US201202%%2
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC07-05ID14517
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: ASME 2011 Small Modular Reactors Symposium,Washington, DC,09/28/2011,09/30/2011
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; AMORPHOUS STATE; CARBON; ENCAPSULATION; FABRICATION; FIBERS; FUEL PELLETS; FUEL RODS; NEUTRONS; PELLETS; PROCESSING; PYROLYSIS; RADIATIONS; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SILICON; SILICON CARBIDES; SPECTROSCOPY; STABILITY; SYNTHESIS; TENSILE PROPERTIES; THIN FILMS; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; Silicon Carbide

Citation Formats

McHugh, Kevin M, Garnier, John E, and Griffith, George W. Synthesis and Analysis of Alpha Silicon Carbide Components for Encapsulation of Fuel Rods and Pellets. United States: N. p., 2011. Web.
McHugh, Kevin M, Garnier, John E, & Griffith, George W. Synthesis and Analysis of Alpha Silicon Carbide Components for Encapsulation of Fuel Rods and Pellets. United States.
McHugh, Kevin M, Garnier, John E, and Griffith, George W. 2011. "Synthesis and Analysis of Alpha Silicon Carbide Components for Encapsulation of Fuel Rods and Pellets". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1032080.
@article{osti_1032080,
title = {Synthesis and Analysis of Alpha Silicon Carbide Components for Encapsulation of Fuel Rods and Pellets},
author = {McHugh, Kevin M and Garnier, John E and Griffith, George W},
abstractNote = {The chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of silicon carbide (SiC) along with its low neutron activation and stability in a radiation field make it an attractive material for encapsulating fuel rods and fuel pellets. The alpha phase (6H) is particularly stable. Unfortunately, it requires very high temperature processing and is not readily available in fibers or near-net shapes. This paper describes an investigation to fabricate a-SiC as thin films, fibers and near-net-shape products by direct conversion of carbon using silicon monoxide vapor at temperatures less than 1700 C. In addition, experiments to nucleate the alpha phase during pyrolysis of polysilazane, are also described. Structure and composition were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Preliminary tensile property analysis of fibers was also performed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1032080}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}

Conference:
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