PNNL

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC)-based ceramic composites have been studied for fusion applications for more than a decade. The potential for these materials have been widely discussed and are now understood to be 1) the ability to operate at temperature regimes much higher than metallic alloys, 2) an inherent low level of long-lived radioisotopes reducing the radiological burden of the structure, and 3) perceived tolerance against neutron irradiation up to high temperatures. This paper not only reviews the recent progress in development, characterization, and irradiation effect studies for SiC composites for fusion energy applications, but makes the case that SiC composites are progressing from a stage of proof-of-principle as viable materials to one that has been defined sufficiently and is ready for system demonstration such as for flow channel insert in Pb-Li blankets. Finally, remaining general and specific technical issues for SiC composites for fusion applications are identified.