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Title: Modeling thermal and irradiation-induced swelling effects on the integrity of Ti3SiC2/SiC joints

Journal Article · · Journal of Nuclear Materials
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Previously, results for CVD-SiC joined by a solid state displacement reaction to form a dual-phase SiC/MAX phase joint subsequently irradiated at 800 °C to 5 dpa indicated some cracking in the joint. Here, this paper elucidates the cracking origin by developing a model that accounts for differential thermal expansion and irradiation-induced swelling between the substrate and joint materials by using a continuum damage mechanics approach with support from micromechanical modeling. Damage accumulation in joined specimens irradiated at four temperatures (300 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C and 800 °C) is analyzed. We assume the experimental irradiation dose is sufficient to cause saturation swelling in SiC. The analyses indicate that the SiC/MAX joint survives irradiation-induced swelling at all the irradiation temperatures considered. The joint experiences only minor damage when heated to and irradiated at 800 °C as well as cooling to room temperature. The prediction agrees with the experimental findings available for this case. However, the joint heated to 300 °C suffers severe damage during irradiation-induced swelling at this temperature, and additional damage after cooling to room temperature. Irradiation at 400 °C and subsequent cooling to room temperature produced similar damage to the irradiation 300 °C case, but to a lesser extent. Finally, the joint heated to 500 °C and irradiated at this temperature suffered only very minor damage, but further moderate damage occurred after cooling to room temperature.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1395274
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1549943
Report Number(s):
PNN-SA-124282; PII: S0022311517303471
Journal Information:
Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 495, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 9 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science