Stability of SiC/SiC fibre composites exposed to Li sub 4 SiO sub 4 and Li sub 2 TiO sub 3 in fusion relevant conditions

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 294; no. 3; pp. 223 - 231
• Main Authors: La Barbera, A, Riccardi, B, Donato, A, Nannetti, C A, Moreschi, L F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2001
• ISSN: 0022-3115

The physico-chemical stability of a commercial 3D SiC sub f /SiC composite provided with an outer CVD SiC protective layer was studied after exposure to flowing helium with 0.1% H sub 2 at 800 deg C in contact with lithium silicate and lithium titanate. Exposure tests were carried out for 216, 1000 and 10 000 h in an especially designed loop. The mechanical characteristics of the SiC sub f /SiC composite in contact with Li sub 4 SiO sub 4 were almost unaffected by the exposure, while those in contact with Li sub 2 TiO sub 3 were slightly worsened. SiC coating transformation was clearly detected on samples exposed to both lithium silicate and titanate. Copyright (c) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.