Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites

Silicon carbide fibre reinforced silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC/SiC) is a key structural material for fusion reactors to allow high temperature operation of liquid lithium breeder blankets. This research investigated the corrosion behaviour of two SiC/SiC composites (using Tyranno SA3 and SA4...

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Main Authors: Liu, J, Myers, H, Young, B, Leide, A, Wade-Zhu, J, Grovenor, C, Armstrong, DEJ
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024
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author Liu, J
Myers, H
Young, B
Leide, A
Wade-Zhu, J
Grovenor, C
Armstrong, DEJ
author_facet Liu, J
Myers, H
Young, B
Leide, A
Wade-Zhu, J
Grovenor, C
Armstrong, DEJ
author_sort Liu, J
collection OXFORD
description Silicon carbide fibre reinforced silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC/SiC) is a key structural material for fusion reactors to allow high temperature operation of liquid lithium breeder blankets. This research investigated the corrosion behaviour of two SiC/SiC composites (using Tyranno SA3 and SA4 fibres) immersed in static liquid lithium at 600 °C for 100 h. Utilizing immersion tests and advanced microstructural analysis, the study reveals considerable corrosion in SiC/SiC composites, particularly in local areas enriched with residual carbon or oxygen. The interface carbon layer, while enhancing mechanical properties, induces preferential sites for corrosion cracking, diminishing the material's corrosion resistance. This study offers critical insights into the corrosive interaction between SiC/SiC composites and liquid lithium, highlighting the need for manufacturing process optimization and exploration of alternative interface layers, protective coatings, or avoiding contact between SiC/SiC and molten lithium in breeder blanket system.
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spelling oxford-uuid:3b5542ee-df99-4c13-aaf1-1d5607c1a8722024-05-15T08:18:15ZLiquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC compositesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:3b5542ee-df99-4c13-aaf1-1d5607c1a872EnglishSymplectic ElementsElsevier2024Liu, JMyers, HYoung, BLeide, AWade-Zhu, JGrovenor, CArmstrong, DEJSilicon carbide fibre reinforced silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC/SiC) is a key structural material for fusion reactors to allow high temperature operation of liquid lithium breeder blankets. This research investigated the corrosion behaviour of two SiC/SiC composites (using Tyranno SA3 and SA4 fibres) immersed in static liquid lithium at 600 °C for 100 h. Utilizing immersion tests and advanced microstructural analysis, the study reveals considerable corrosion in SiC/SiC composites, particularly in local areas enriched with residual carbon or oxygen. The interface carbon layer, while enhancing mechanical properties, induces preferential sites for corrosion cracking, diminishing the material's corrosion resistance. This study offers critical insights into the corrosive interaction between SiC/SiC composites and liquid lithium, highlighting the need for manufacturing process optimization and exploration of alternative interface layers, protective coatings, or avoiding contact between SiC/SiC and molten lithium in breeder blanket system.
spellingShingle Liu, J
Myers, H
Young, B
Leide, A
Wade-Zhu, J
Grovenor, C
Armstrong, DEJ
Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites
title Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites
title_full Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites
title_fullStr Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites
title_full_unstemmed Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites
title_short Liquid lithium corrosion of SiC/SiC composites
title_sort liquid lithium corrosion of sic sic composites
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AT myersh liquidlithiumcorrosionofsicsiccomposites
AT youngb liquidlithiumcorrosionofsicsiccomposites
AT leidea liquidlithiumcorrosionofsicsiccomposites
AT wadezhuj liquidlithiumcorrosionofsicsiccomposites
AT grovenorc liquidlithiumcorrosionofsicsiccomposites
AT armstrongdej liquidlithiumcorrosionofsicsiccomposites