Perspectives of SiC-Based Ceramic Composites and Their Applications to Fusion Reactors 4.Neutron Irradiation Effects in SiC and SiC⁄SiC Composites

Abstract

Irradiation effects of SiC fiber reinforced SiC matrix composites were summarized. Based on studies of irradiation behavior of SiC⁄SiC composites, SiC fibers which have stoichiometric composition and highly crystallized structure are expected to have high resistance to irradiation, and advanced SiC⁄SiC composites for fusion application were developed using these advanced SiC fibers. In this paper, the mechanism of irradiation resistance and recent irradiation studies on size stability, mechanical properties and thermal diffusivity were introduced.