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SiC / SiC composite materials for nuclear applications

KOHYAMA Akira1, and KISHIMOTO Hirotatsu1

1. Organization of Advanced Sustainability Initiative for Energy System/Materials, Muroran Institute of Technology, 27-1, Mizumoto-cho, Muroran, Hokkaido 050-8585, Japan (kohyama@oasis.muroran-it.ac.jp)

Abstract: Replacement of Zircaloy claddings with SiC/SiC based fuel cladding is introduced as one of the most attractive options of ensuring ultra-high safety of LWRs. Further, the applications of SiC/SiC and C/SiC composite materials in many in-core components of light-water reactors (LWRs), generation IV reactors and fusion reactors are introduced. Fabrication of all SiC/SiC claddings has posed many challenges; the results reported hitherto are not satisfactory. In this study, nano-infiltration and transient eutectic phase (NITE) method is introduced as one of the most attractive and realistic fabrication methods for this purpose. In addition, the current status of all SiC/SiC cladding fabrication and performance evaluation is provided. The future programs to establish NITE-SiC/SiC cladding supply and quality assurance, including on-going government-funded programs, are also elaborated.
Keyword: nuclear safety; advanced ceramic composites; SiC/SiC; fuel cladding; in-reactor experiment

 
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