Effects of neutron irradiation on mechanical properties of silicon carbide composites fabricated by nano-infiltration and transient eutectic-phase process

Abstract Unidirectional silicon carbide (SiC)-fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites fabricated by a nano-infiltration and transient eutectic-phase (NITE) process were irradiated with neutrons at 600 °C to 0.52 dpa, at 830 °C to 5.9 dpa, and at 1270 °C to 5.8 dpa. The in-plane and trans-thickness tensile and the inter-laminar shear properties were evaluated at ambient temperature. The mechanical characteristics, including the quasi-ductile behavior, the proportional limit stress, and the ultimate tensile strength, were retained subsequent to irradiation. Analysis of the stress–strain hysteresis loop indicated the increased fiber/matrix interface friction and the decreased residual stresses. The inter-laminar shear strength exhibited a significant decrease following irradiation.

[1]  Ramakrishna T. Bhatt,et al.  SiC/SiC Composites for 1200°C and Above , 2005 .

[2]  Mattison K. Ferber,et al.  The interlaminar tensile and shear behavior of a unidirectional CC composite , 1996 .

[3]  N. Takeda,et al.  Modeling brittle and tough stress–strain behavior in unidirectional ceramic matrix composites , 1998 .

[4]  John W. Hutchinson,et al.  Models of fiber debonding and pullout in brittle composites with friction , 1990 .

[5]  A. Kohyama,et al.  High mechanical performance SiC/SiC composites by NITE process with tailoring of appropriate fabrication temperature to fiber volume fraction , 2009 .

[6]  Anthony G. Evans,et al.  Inelastic strains due to matrix cracking in unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites , 1994 .

[7]  Anthony G. Evans,et al.  Relationships between Hysteresis Measurements and the Constituent Properties of Ceramic Matrix Composites: I, Theory , 1995 .

[8]  Y. Katoh,et al.  Stability of SiC and its composites at high neutron fluence , 2011 .

[9]  Akira Kohyama,et al.  Microstructural optimization of high-temperature SiC/SiC composites by NITE process , 2009 .

[10]  Akira Kohyama,et al.  Thermo-mechanical properties and microstructure of silicon carbide composites fabricated by nano-infiltrated transient eutectoid process , 2002 .

[11]  A. Kohyama,et al.  Determination and prediction of axial/off-axial mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites , 2012 .

[12]  W. J. Weber,et al.  Radiation effects in SiC for nuclear structural applications , 2012 .

[13]  W. Hillig,et al.  The effect of fiber-matrix debond energy on the matrix cracking strength and the debond shear strength , 1990 .

[14]  E. Lara‐Curzio,et al.  Evaluation of Transthickness Tensile Strength of SiC/SiC Composites , 2008 .

[15]  Akira Hasegawa,et al.  Continuous SiC fiber, CVI SiC matrix composites for nuclear applications: Properties and irradiation effects , 2014 .

[16]  Y. Katoh,et al.  Mechanical properties of advanced SiC fiber composites irradiated at very high temperatures , 2011 .

[17]  Tatsuya Hinoki,et al.  Effect of differential swelling between fiber and matrix on the strength of irradiated SiC/SiC composites , 2013 .

[18]  Y. Katoh,et al.  Handbook of SiC properties for fuel performance modeling , 2007 .

[19]  A. Evans,et al.  Matrix fracture in fiber-reinforced ceramics , 1986 .

[20]  Lance Lewis Snead,et al.  Thermophysical and mechanical properties of near-stoichiometric fiber CVI SiC/SiC composites after neutron irradiation at elevated temperatures , 2010 .

[21]  Y. Katoh,et al.  Strength Anisotropy of NITE-SiC/SiC Composite by Various Failure Modes , 2012 .

[22]  Tatsuya Hinoki,et al.  The influence of sintering additives on the irradiation resistance of NITE SiC , 2011 .

[23]  M. Steen,et al.  Unloading-Reloading Sequences and the Analysis of Mechanical Test Results for Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composites , 1997 .