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Effect of deposition conditions on the properties of pyrolytic silicon carbide coatings for high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel particles

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7283965· OSTI ID:7283965

Silicon carbide coatings on HTGR microsphere fuel act as the barrier to contain metallic fission products. Silicon carbide coatings were applied by the decomposition of CH/sub 3/SiCl/sub 3/ in a 13-cm-diam (5-in.) fluidized-bed coating furnace. The effects of temperature, CH/sub 3/SiCl/sub 3/ supply rate and the H/sub 2/:CH/sub 3/SiCl/sub 3/ ratio on coating properties were studied. Deposition temperature was found to control coating density, whole particle crushing strength, coating efficiency, and microstructure. Coating density and microstructure were also partially determined by the H/sub 2/:CH/sub 3/SiCl/sub 3/ ratio. From this work, it appears that the rate at which high quality SiC can be deposited can be increased from 0.2 to 0.5 ..mu..m/min.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Tenn. (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
7283965
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-5743
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English