Digital Library / STP / STP1175-EB / STP24006S



Effect of Neutron Irradiation on Thermal Conductivity of Carbon/Carbon Fiber Materials at 400 and 600°C in the Fluence Range 1 × 1022 to 1 × 1024 m-2

Thiele, BA
Research scientists,Institute for Reactor Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich,

Binkele, L
Research scientists,Institute for Reactor Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich,

Koizlik, K
Research scientists,Institute for Reactor Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich,

Nickel, H
Head of the Institute for Reactor Materials,Forschungszentrum Jülich,


Pages: 11    Published: Jan 1994


Download this paper for $25 PDF (184K)          View License Agreement
        Click here to download the complete source publication for $180 PDF (27M)


Source: STP1175-EB


Abstract

Because of their low atomic number and excellent thermal conductivity, carbon/ carbon fiber materials are seen as potential candidates for plasma-facing components, such as divertors, in Tokamak fusion devices. In the technology phase of Next European Torus (NET) or International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the surface of a divertor will operate between 400 and 1000°C, and the materials will accumulate a lifetime neutron fluence equivalent to a dpa damage of 0.1. Low doses of neutron irradiation cause a significant decrease in the thermal conductivity of graphitic materials at low temperatures. To quantify the effect, candidate materials such as fine- and superfine-grained graphites (as reference materials), carbon/carbon fiber composites, and an oriented pyrolytic carbon (PyC) were irradiated at 400 and 600°C up to 0.1 dpa. At this fluence and at 400°C, the thermal conductivity (/) is reduced by 40 to 60%, whereas irradiation at 600°C caused a reduction of the l-values at irradiation temperature by about 20 to 40%. This spread seems to be caused by material differences but could be due to the uncertainties in the measurement and neutron fluence.


Keywords:
neutron irradiation, carbon/carbon fiber composites, pyrocarbon, fine-grained graphites, thermal conductivity

Paper ID: STP24006S
Committee/Subcommittee: E10.08
DOI: 10.1520/STP24006S
CrossRef ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.