Neutron irradiation effects on the density, tensile properties and microstructural changes in Hi-Nicalon™ and Sylramic™ SiC fibers

Tensile results are presented for ceramic grade (cg) Nicalon™, Hi-Nicalon™ and Sylramic™ SiC fibers which have all been neutron irradiated in the high flux isotope reactor (HFIR) at damage levels of 0.1, 0.5, 2 and 5 dpa. Single fibers were tensile tested and the results were analyzed using Weibull statistics. Fiber axial displacements were measured with a laser micrometer which allowed for the determination of the tensile moduli. Density changes were measured with a gradient column. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to assess microstructural damage and X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to measure uniform strain, degree of crystallinity, average coherence length and root-mean-square microstrain. The physical and tensile results indicate that cg Nicalon™ and Hi-Nicalon™ are unstable in a neutron field. Both fiber types densify by 3–5% which would be detrimental to a composite's matrix cracking stress due to weakening or debonding of the interface. The Sylramic™ swells which is similar behavior to the monolithic SiC. The failure strength of the Sylramic™ drops by 50% after an irradiation temperature of 500°C which would have little effect on the matrix cracking condition of a composite. The Sylramic™ fiber strength decrease would significantly reduce the ultimate composite strength but the composite strength would remain above the matrix cracking strength such that the fibers may still potentially be viable for fusion applications.