AbstractThe thermodynamic stability of SiC/SiC composite structures proposed for fusion applications is presented in this paper. Minimization of the free energy for reacting species in the temperature range 773–1273 K is achieved by utilizing the NASA-Lewis Chemical Equilibrium Thermodynamics Code (CET). The chemical stability of the matrix (SiC), as well as several fiber coatings (BN and graphite) are studied. Helium coolant is assumed to contain O2 and water moisture impurities in the range 100–1000 ppm. The work is applied to recent Magnetic and Inertial Confinement Conceptual designs. The present study indicates that the upper useful temperature limit for SiC/SiC composites, from the standpoint of high-temperature corrosion, will be in the neighborhood of 1273 K. Up to this temperature, corrosion of SiC is shown to be negligible. The main mechanism of weight loss will be by evaporation to the plasma side. The presence of a protective SiO2 condensed phase is discussed, and is shown to result in further reduction of high-temperature corrosion. The thermodynamic stability of C and BN is shown to be very poor under typical fusion reactor conditions. Further development of chemically stable interface materials is required.
Nonmetallic materials for plasma facing and structural applications in fusion reactors