Microstructure and mechanical properties evolution of the Cr coatings on SiC substrates under He irradiation

Shuxin Dai; Zhanfeng Yan; Kun Liang; Peng Li; Fanping Meng; Ping Yu; Bingsheng Li; Fangfang Ge

Journal of Materials Research and Technology (May 2024)

Microstructure and mechanical properties evolution of the Cr coatings on SiC substrates under He irradiation

Shuxin Dai,
Zhanfeng Yan,
Kun Liang,
Peng Li,
Fanping Meng,
Ping Yu,
Bingsheng Li,
Fangfang Ge

Affiliations

Shuxin Dai: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Data-Driven High-Safety Energy Materials and Applications, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials and Chemistry, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China; Qianwan Institute of CNITECH, Ningbo 315336, China
Zhanfeng Yan: Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621999, China
Kun Liang: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Data-Driven High-Safety Energy Materials and Applications, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials and Chemistry, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China; Qianwan Institute of CNITECH, Ningbo 315336, China
Peng Li: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Data-Driven High-Safety Energy Materials and Applications, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials and Chemistry, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China; Qianwan Institute of CNITECH, Ningbo 315336, China
Fanping Meng: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Data-Driven High-Safety Energy Materials and Applications, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials and Chemistry, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China; Qianwan Institute of CNITECH, Ningbo 315336, China
Ping Yu: School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo, 315211, China
Bingsheng Li: State Key Laboratory for Environment-friendly Energy Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, China; Corresponding author.
Fangfang Ge: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Data-Driven High-Safety Energy Materials and Applications, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials and Chemistry, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China; Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, 516000, China; Qianwan Institute of CNITECH, Ningbo 315336, China; Corresponding author. Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 30
pp. 945 – 953

Abstract

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Environment coatings are frequently considered, to improve the corrosion resistance of silicon carbide (SiC) in pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR) surroundings. Chromium (Cr) is one of the main candidate materials for coatings on zirconium-based alloys for accident-tolerant fuel (AFT) cladding. In this work, the magnetron sputtered Cr coatings on SiC substrates were irradiated by the 500 keV He+ ions at room temperature. Moreover, the microstructural characterization was conducted on the irradiated specimens by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The scratch test showed that the coating-substrate adhesion decreased from 41 N to 28 N (∼31.7%) before and after the irradiation, maybe due to that the irradiation produced tensile strain in the coating and mesophase along the coating-substrate interface. It revealed that irradiation accelerated the migration and aggregation of C elements on the surface of the coating. After the 800 °C annealing for 20 min, massive Cr atoms diffused into the SiC matrix and reacted with Cr to form a chromium silicide interlayer. Some cracks were observed at the interface, being attributed to the Kirkendall effect. Therefore, it is very necessary to avoid the formation of chromium silicide interlayer and decrease swelling mismatch between the metal coatings and the SiC substrate for the actual application in nuclear systems.

Published in Journal of Materials Research and Technology

ISSN: 2238-7854 (Print); 2214-0697 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Mining engineering. Metallurgy
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-materials-research-and-technology/

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