Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University
Analysis of carbon based materials under fusion relevant thermal loads
Abstract
dc:descriptionCarbon based materials (CBMs) are used in fusion devices as plasma facing materials for decades. They have been selected due to the inherent advantages of carbon for fusion applications. The main ones are its low atomic number and the fact that it does not melt but sublimate (above 3000°C) under the planned working conditions. In addition, graphitic materials retain their mechanical properties at elevated temperatures and their thermal shock resistance is one of the highest, making them suitable for thermal management purpose during long or extremely short heat pulses. Nuclear grade fine grain graphite was the prime form of CBM which was set as a standard but when it comes to large fusion devices created nowadays, thermo-mechanical constraints created during transient heat loads (few GW.m-2 can be deposited in few ms) are so high that carbon/carbon composites (so-called Carbon Fiber Composites (CFCs)) have to be utilized. CFCs can achieve superior thermal conductivity as well as mechanical properties than fine grain graphite. However, all the thermo-mechanical properties of CFCs are highly dependent on the loading direction as a consequence of the graphite structure. In this work, the background on the anisotropy of the graphitic structures but also on the production of fine grain graphite and CFCs is highlighted, showing the major principles which are relevant for the further understanding of the study. Nine advanced CBMs were then compared in terms of microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties. Among them, two fine grain graphites were considered as useful reference materials to allow comparing advantages reached by the developed CFCs. The presented microstructural investigation methods permitted to make statements which can be applied for CFCs presenting similarities in terms of fiber architecture. Determination of the volumetric percentage of the major sub-units of CFCs, i.e. laminates, felt layers or needled fiber groups, lead to a better understanding on how anisotropy can be tailored and on the strategies which were applied for the production of the investigated materials. Textures of fibers and microstructures of matrices were also described. Thermo-physical properties such as thermal conductivity and thermal expansion of some CFCs were studied for different materials’ orientations. For the first time, some off-axis results of thermal conductivity and thermal expansion for fusion related CFCs are displayed. Room temperature bending and tensile loading of CFCs were performed and they allowed relating the microstructural findings to the anisotropic mechanical response. Fiber architecture of CFCs and interfacial shear strength between the fiber and the matrix appeared to be the main parameters which dictate the fracture mechanisms. In addition, the analysis of five batches of one CFC permitted to understand the difficulty of reproducing such advanced material. The differences in terms of needling process were related to the variations of the tensile properties in the various fibrous directions. Finally, fusion-relevant transient heat loads were simulated on the investigated CBMs within various high heat flux facilities, i.e. electron beam, ion beam and plasma gun. Erosion scenarios at different scales were compiled in relation to the CBM properties but also the type of the transient event. The locally preferential erosion and ejection of material from the surface of the CBM are comprehensively described as well as their implications. This ejection of hot particles from the CBM surface (so-called Brittle Destruction (BD) mechanism) was defined, explained and analyzed. An experimental thermal shock resistance criterion based on thermal-shock induced weight loss is presented. After analyzing the anisotropic response of CFCs to transient heat loads in their three orthotropic fiber directions, attempts to reduce BD were done by loading them under off-axis orientations. It partly succeeded and led to the observation of unexpected erosion patterns for penetrating species such as the used 120 keV electrons. The effect of neutron irradiation on CBMs under thermal shock load is presented and a significant defect recovery in the near surface was observed.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher
- Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University
- Year dc:date
- 2008
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Compan, Jérémie Saint-Hélène
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Singheiser, Lorenz
Subjects
dc:subject × 7Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
- Language dc:language
- eng