Dimensional stability and anisotropy of SiC and SiC-based composites in transition swelling regime
Swelling, or volumetric expansion, is an inevitable consequence of the atomic displacement damage in crystalline silicon carbide (SiC) caused by energetic neutron irradiation. Because of its steep temperature and dose dependence, understanding swelling is essential for designing SiC-based components...
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Published in | Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 499; no. C; pp. 471 - 479 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Amsterdam
Elsevier B.V
01.02.2018
Elsevier BV Elsevier |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Swelling, or volumetric expansion, is an inevitable consequence of the atomic displacement damage in crystalline silicon carbide (SiC) caused by energetic neutron irradiation. Because of its steep temperature and dose dependence, understanding swelling is essential for designing SiC-based components for nuclear applications. In this study, swelling behaviors of monolithic CVD SiC and nuclear grade SiC fiber – SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites were accurately determined, supported by the irradiation temperature determination for individual samples, following neutron irradiation within the lower transition swelling temperature regime. Slightly anisotropic swelling behaviors were found for the SiC/SiC samples and attributed primarily to the combined effects of the pre-existing microcracking, fiber architecture, and specimen dimension. A semi-empirical model of SiC swelling was calibrated and presented. Finally, implications of the refined model to selected swelling-related issues for SiC-based nuclar reactor components are discussed. |
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Bibliography: | USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Reactor Technologies (NE-7) AC05-00OR22725 |
ISSN: | 0022-3115 1873-4820 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.009 |