Silicon-carbide composite materials for the ARIES-I reactor study

Until recently, the brittle failure behavior of monolithic ceramic materials has posed a problem for using ceramics as structural materials. Recent developments in manufacturing and processing fiber-reinforced ceramics make SiC/SiC composites a promising candidate for future power plants. Silicon carbide composites are advantageous from a safety and waste-disposal standpoint because of the low activation and their very low decay after-heat respectively. The thermomechanical properties and neutron irradiation response of SiC/SiC composite materials are reviewed. Composite design equations are used to approximate a window of allowable design stresses for the first wall and blanket structure of the ARIES-I tokamak reactor. With minor extrapolations from present manufacturing experience, SiC/SiC composites offer a viable structural material choice, thus improving the safety and environmental aspects of future fusion power plants when compared with coal or nuclear plants.<>