Promise and Challenges of SiCf/SiC Composites for Fusion Energy Applications

Journal Article · Mon Dec 30 04:00:00 EST 2002 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(02)00976-5· OSTI ID:15003355

Jones, Russell H ^[1]; Giancarli, L ^[2]; Hasegawa, Akira ^[3]; Katoh, Y; Kohyama, Akira ^[4]; Riccardi, B ^[5]; Snead, Lance L ^[3]; Weber, William J ^[1]

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1. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
2. CEA, Centre d'Etudes de Saclay
3. UNKNOWN
4. UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
5. ENEA-CR Frascati

Silicon carbide fiber/silicon carbide matrix composites are a promising structural material for fusion energy applications. They have been specified in several recent fusion power plant design studies because of their high operating temperature (1000-1100?C) and hence high energy conversion efficiencies. Radiation resistance of the b-phase of SiC, excellent high-temperature fracture, creep, corrosion and thermal shock resistance and safety advantages arising from low induced radioactivity and afterheat are all positive attributes favoring the selection of SiCf/SiC composites. With the promise of these materials comes a number of challenges such as their thermal conductivity, radiation stability, gaseous transmutation rates, hermetic behavior and joining technology. Recent advances have been made in understanding radiation damage in SiC at the fundamental level through molecular dynamics simulations of displacement cascades. Radiation stability of composites made with the advanced fibers of Nicalon Type S and the UBE Tyranno SA, where no change in strength was observed up to 10 dpa at 800?C, in the development of materials with improved thermal conductivity, modeling of thermal conductivity, joining techniques and models for life-prediction. High transmutation rates of C and Si to form H, He, Mg, and Al continue to be a concern.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15003355
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-37013; AT6020100; KC0201020
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 307(Pt B); ISSN 0022-3115; ISSN JNUMAM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ATOMIC-SCALE SIMULATION
BUILDING MATERIALS
CARBIDES
COMPUTER-SIMULATION
CORROSION
CREEP
DEFECT PRODUCTION
DISPLACEMENT CASCADES
EFFECTIVE THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY
ENERGY CONVERSION
FIBER COMPOSITES
INDUCED AMORPHIZATION
MATRIX COMPOSITES
MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS
POWER PLANTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVITY
SAFETY
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON-CARBIDE
SIMULATION
STABILITY
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL SHOCK
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRANSMUTATION