Oxide growth and corrosion resistance of Si-containing SiC fuel matrices fabricated by reaction sintering for high-power nuclear reactors
To assess the potential risk of fuel matrix degradation, this study examines the oxidation behavior of the reaction-sintered SiC containing residual Si (Si-RS-SiC) during air-ingress accidents. Si-RS-SiC samples were subjected to oxidation tests in air and under 1 ppm O2 flow using thermogravimetric...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Open Ceramics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666539525000070 |
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| Summary: | To assess the potential risk of fuel matrix degradation, this study examines the oxidation behavior of the reaction-sintered SiC containing residual Si (Si-RS-SiC) during air-ingress accidents. Si-RS-SiC samples were subjected to oxidation tests in air and under 1 ppm O2 flow using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphology and thickness of the silicon oxide layer were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Si-RS-SiC exhibited exceptional resistance to air oxidation up to 1400°C, forming a uniform oxide layer of 20 μm thickness with a pure Si layer (2 μm thick) between SiO2 and SiC at this temperature. At lower temperatures, the Si-RS-SiC formed oxide layers with irregular thickness, which became thicker and more uniform as the temperature increased. Additionally, TGA tests in 1 ppm O2 showed that the passive/active transition behavior of Si-RS-SiC shifts in a preferable direction compared to previously reported Si-less RS-SiC, indicating that the presence of residual Si significantly enhances the corrosion resistance. |
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| ISSN: | 2666-5395 |