NSUF 20-4114: Study of the effect of water chemistry on the performance of CVD-SiC by means of in-situ proton irradiation-corrosion testing
The main objective of the proposed work is to study the effect of water chemistry on the performance of CVD-SiC (beta-SiC) of industrial importance (material produced by the GA/WH partnership); this CVD-SiC is used as outer protection of SiC/SiC ATF claddings against hydrothermal corrosion. With this objective in mind, CVD-SiC will be subjected to in-situ proton irradiation-corrosion testing in contact with three different water chemistries. The proposed experiments will be carried out at the MIBL, using the 3 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator, a dedicated beamline, and a miniature autoclave with a water circulation system. The CVD-SiC samples will be disc-shaped (3+/0.5 mm in diameter, approx. 50 microns in thickness) and will be polished prior to testing, using diamond paste followed by colloidal silica suspension. Material irradiation will be done using a 5.4 MeV proton beam (dose rate: 10-7 dpa/s) in three water chemistries: (a) PWR primary water with 3 ppm H2 (standard chemistry), irradiation T = 320C; (b) PWR primary water with 0.1 ppm H2 or similar, irradiation T = 320C; and (c) PWR primary water with 1 ppm O2 and added H2SO4 to control conductivity in the 0.1-0.2 microS/cm range, irradiation T = 288C. Each irradiation-corrosion test will last for 1-3 days for total of 9 working days, staying within the 2 weeks of allowed work at the MIBL. The tests will be performed within 6 months from the award date; preferably, all irradiation-corrosion tests and basic sample characterization should be done before the beginning of the BR2 irradiation in September 2020. The PIE of the CVD-SiC samples will be performed by SEM/TEM at the Michigan Centre for Microstructure Characterization, while thin foils will be lifted out by FIB for PIE TEM analysis. The proposed work is expected to yield a better understanding of the effect of water chemistry on the performance of SiC/SiC ATF clads of diverse provenance (USA, France, Japan) prior to the planned BR2 irradiation in H2020 IL TROVATORE. The BR2 irradiation foresees the exposure of ATF claddings to PWR-like water, the chemistry of which can be tweaked to provide the most conducive coolant environment (in terms of corrosiveness) to the fuel clads. Since the first 3 cycles of the BR2 irradiation will include mainly SiC/SiC fuel clads, it is important to know the effect of water chemistry on material performance. Using the industrial quality GA/WH CVD-SiC to assess this effect, thereby helping to refine the water chemistry of the BR2 irradiation will maximize the impact of the proposed work and the added value of the requested US-DOE funding. Moreover, this work will showcase the importance of conducting carefully planned studies on synergistic materials degradation effects to accelerate the development of innovative nuclear materials, for both current and future generation fission reactors. As already mentioned, the main scientific outcome of this work would be a better understanding of the effect of water chemistry on the performance of CVD-SiC of industrial importance. The experimental findings will be used to produce at least one peer-reviewed Journal publication.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The main objective of the proposed work is to study the effect of water chemistry on the performance of CVD-SiC (beta-SiC) of industrial importance (material produced by the GA/WH partnership); this CVD-SiC is used as outer protection of SiC/SiC ATF claddings against hydrothermal corrosion. With this objective in mind, CVD-SiC will be subjected to in-situ proton irradiation-corrosion testing in contact with three different water chemistries. The proposed experiments will be carried out at the MIBL, using the 3 MV Pelletron Tandem accelerator, a dedicated beamline, and a miniature autoclave with a water circulation system. The CVD-SiC samples will be disc-shaped (3+/0.5 mm in diameter, approx. 50 microns in thickness) and will be polished prior to testing, using diamond paste followed by colloidal silica suspension. Material irradiation will be done using a 5.4 MeV proton beam (dose rate: 10-7 dpa/s) in three water chemistries: (a) PWR primary water with 3 ppm H2 (standard chemistry), irradiation T = 320C; (b) PWR primary water with 0.1 ppm H2 or similar, irradiation T = 320C; and (c) PWR primary water with 1 ppm O2 and added H2SO4 to control conductivity in the 0.1-0.2 microS/cm range, irradiation T = 288C. Each irradiation-corrosion test will last for 1-3 days for total of 9 working days, staying within the 2 weeks of allowed work at the MIBL. The tests will be performed within 6 months from the award date; preferably, all irradiation-corrosion tests and basic sample characterization should be done before the beginning of the BR2 irradiation in September 2020. The PIE of the CVD-SiC samples will be performed by SEM/TEM at the Michigan Centre for Microstructure Characterization, while thin foils will be lifted out by FIB for PIE TEM analysis. The proposed work is expected to yield a better understanding of the effect of water chemistry on the performance of SiC/SiC ATF clads of diverse provenance (USA, France, Japan) prior to the planned BR2 irradiation in H2020 IL TROVATORE. The BR2 irradiation foresees the exposure of ATF claddings to PWR-like water, the chemistry of which can be tweaked to provide the most conducive coolant environment (in terms of corrosiveness) to the fuel clads. Since the first 3 cycles of the BR2 irradiation will include mainly SiC/SiC fuel clads, it is important to know the effect of water chemistry on material performance. Using the industrial quality GA/WH CVD-SiC to assess this effect, thereby helping to refine the water chemistry of the BR2 irradiation will maximize the impact of the proposed work and the added value of the requested US-DOE funding. Moreover, this work will showcase the importance of conducting carefully planned studies on synergistic materials degradation effects to accelerate the development of innovative nuclear materials, for both current and future generation fission reactors. As already mentioned, the main scientific outcome of this work would be a better understanding of the effect of water chemistry on the performance of CVD-SiC of industrial importance. The experimental findings will be used to produce at least one peer-reviewed Journal publication. |
| Award Announced Date | 2020-07-14T14:07:28.19 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Kevin Field |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Konstantina Lambrinou |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 4114 |