Influence of microstructure on hydrothermal corrosion of chemically vapor processed SiC composite tubes

Multi-layered SiC composites consisting of monolithic SiC and a SiCf/SiC composite are one of the accident tolerant fuel cladding concepts in pressurized light water reactors. To evaluate the integrity of the SiC fuel cladding under normal operating conditions of a pressurized light water reactor, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nuclear materials 2017-08, Vol.492, p.6-13
Main Authors: Kim, Daejong, Lee, Ho Jung, Jang, Changheui, Lee, Hyeon-Geun, Park, Ji Yeon, Kim, Weon-Ju
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ATF
Ceramic fiber reinforced ceramics
Cladding
Composite
Corrosion
Corrosion resistance
Crystallinity
Fluence
Grain boundaries
Light water
Light water reactors
Marine environment
Microstructure
Multilayers
Nuclear energy
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear reactors
Pressurized water
Pressurized water reactors
Reactors
Silicon carbide
Studies
Triplex SiC
Tubes
Weight reduction
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Summary:Multi-layered SiC composites consisting of monolithic SiC and a SiCf/SiC composite are one of the accident tolerant fuel cladding concepts in pressurized light water reactors. To evaluate the integrity of the SiC fuel cladding under normal operating conditions of a pressurized light water reactor, the hydrothermal corrosion behavior of multi-layered SiC composite tubes was investigated in the simulated primary water environment of a pressurized water reactor without neutron fluence. The results showed that SiC phases with good crystallinity such as Tyranno SA3 SiC fiber and monolithic SiC deposited at 1200 °C had good corrosion resistance. However, the SiC phase deposited at 1000 °C had less crystallinity and severely dissolved in water, particularly the amorphous SiC phase formed along grain boundaries. Dissolved hydrogen did not play a significant role in improving the hydrothermal corrosion resistance of the CVI-processed SiC phases containing amorphous SiC, resulting in a significant weight loss and reduction of hoop strength of the multi-layered SiC composite tubes after corrosion.
ISSN:0022-3115
1873-4820
DOI:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.05.010