Evaluation of Coated Layers of HTGR Nuclear Fuel Particle

Simulation Coated layers of a nuclear fuel particle were evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy and nano-indentation method to give basic data to estimate 'Amoeba effect' and give an optimum fabrication condition and high quality control. Coated layers on the fuel kernel are in the order of buffer pyrolytic carbon, inner pyrolytic carbon, silicon carbide and outer pyrolytic carbon layers, which average thicknesses are 95, 25, 30 and 28 ${\mu}m$, respectively. Their densities and hardnesses are 1.08, 1.15, 3.18, 1.82 $g/cm^3$ and 0.522, 0.874, 9.641, and 2.726 GPa, respectively. Comparing theoretical density of pyrolytic carbon of 2.22 $g/cm^3$, the relative amount of porosity in each layer is about 52% for buffer, 48% for inner PyC and 18% for outer PyC.