April 1, 2001
Book Chapter

A NEW TYPE OF SIC COMPOSITE FOR FUSION

Abstract

A new type of SiC composite called Tyrannohex™ is potentially suitable as a fusion reactor structural material. Tyrannohex™ composite plates are made by hot-pressing layups of Tyranno™ SA precursor fibers into various 1D and 2D configurations. The fiber-bonded composite plates contain nearly 100% fiber volume, so take advantage of the outstanding high temperature strength and creep properties of the Tyranno™ SA fiber, a nearly stoichiometric SiC fiber. The hot-pressed plates are dense, strong, rigid, tough, thermally conductive and have high temperature stability. The microstructure and thermal conductivity of a SA-Tyrannohex™ material with a 2D-woven configuration was evaluated prior to irradiation testing. The microstructure contained some small, flat interlaminar pores and intrabundle needle-like pores, and the transverse thermal conductivity was 25 and 21 W/mK at ambient and 1000°C, respectively. These results suggest that careful control of the fiber-bonded interlayers and the fiber architecture are critical to achieve both high thermal conductivity and toughness in Tyrannohex™ type materials.

Revised: July 27, 2010 | Published: April 1, 2001

Citation

Youngblood G.E., and R.H. Jones. 2001. A NEW TYPE OF SIC COMPOSITE FOR FUSION. In Fusion Materials Volume: Semi-Annual Progress Report Ending December 31, 2000, edited by Berk, S.E. 112-120. Washington Dc:US Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences. PNNL-SA-31886.