• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.245-249
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• 2008

The SiC and ZrC are critical and essential materials in TRISO coated fuel particles since they act as protective layers against diffusion of metallic and gaseous fission products and provides mechanical strength for the fuel particle. However, SiC and ZrC have critical disadvantage that SiC loses chemical integrity by thermal dissociation at high temperature and mechanical properties of ZrC are weaker than SiC. In order to complement these problems, we made new combinations of the coating layers that the ZrC layers composed of SiC. In this study, after Silicon carbide(SiC) were chemically vapor deposited on graphite substrate, Zirconium carbide(ZrC) were deposited on SiC/graphite substrate by using Zr reaction technology with Zr sponge materials. The different morphologies of sub-deposited SiC layers were correlated with microstructure, chemical composition and mechanical properties of deposited ZrC films. Relationships between deposition pressure and microstructure of deposited ZrC films were discussed. The deposited ZrC films on SiC of faceted structure with smaller grain size has better mechanical properties than deposited ZrC on another structure due to surface growth trend and microstructure of sub-deposited layer.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.453-458
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• 2014

SiC and its composites have been considered for use as nuclear fuel cladding materials of pressurized light water reactors. In this study, a $SiC_f$/SiC composite as a constituent layer of SiC triplex fuel cladding was fabricated using a chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process in which tubular SiC fiber preforms were prepared using a filament winding method. To enhance the matrix density of the composite layer, winding patterns, deposition temperature, and gas input ratio were controlled. Fiber arrangement and porosity were the main parameters influencing densification behaviors. Final density of the composites decreased as the SiC fiber volume fraction increased. The CVI process was optimized to densify the tubular preforms with high fiber volume fraction at a high $H_2$/MTS ratio of 20 at $1000^{\circ}C$; in this process, surface canning of the composites was effectively retarded.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.169-174
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• 2007

TRISO coated fuel particle is one of the most important materials for hydrogen production using HTGR (high temperature gas cooled reactors). It is composed of three isotropic layers: inner pyrolytic carbon (IPyC), silicon carbide (SiC), outer pyrolytic carbon (OPyC) layers. In this study, TRISO coated fuel particle layers were deposited through CVD process in a horizontal hot wall deposition system. Also the computational simulations of input gas velocity, temperature profile and pressure in the reaction chamber were conducted with varying process variable (i.e temperature and input gas ratios). As deposition temperature increased, microstructure, chemical composition and growth behavior changed and deposition rate increased. The simulation showed that the change of reactant states affected growth rate at each position of the susceptor. The experimental results showed a close correlation with the simulation results.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권7호
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• pp.1367-1379
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• 2020

The small modular sodium-cooled fast reactor (SMSFR) is an important component of Generation-IV reactors. The objective of this work is to improve the reactivity control in SMSFR by using innovative systems, including burnable poisons and optimized control rods. SMSFR with MOX fuel usually exhibits high burnup reactivity loss that leads to high excess reactivity and potential fuel melting in control rod withdrawal (CRW) accidents, which becomes an important constraint on the safety and economic efficiency of SMSFR. This work applies two types of burnable poisons in a SMSFR to reduce the excess reactivity. The first one homogenously loads minor actinides in the fuel. The second one combines absorber and moderators in specific assemblies. The influence of burnable poisons on the core characteristics is discussed and integrated into the analysis of CRW accidents. The results show that burnable poisons improve the safety performance of the core in a significant way. Burnable poisons also lessen the demand for the number, absorption ability, and insertion depth of control rods. Two optimized control rod designs with rare earth oxides (Eu₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃) and moderators are compared to the conventional design with natural boron carbide (B₄C). The optimized designs show improved neutronic and safety performance.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제44권10호
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• pp.580-584
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• 2007

The ZrC layer instead of SiC layer is a critical and essential layer in TRISO coated fuel particles since it is a protective layer against diffusion of fission products and provides mechanical strength for the fuel particle. In this study, we carried out computational simulation before actual experiment. With these simulation results, Zirconium carbide (ZrC) films were chemically vapor deposited on $ZrO_2$ substrate using zirconium tetrachloride $(ZrCl_4),\;CH_4$ as a source and $H_2$ dilution gas, respectively. The change of input gas ratio was correlated with growth rate and morphology of deposited ZrC films. The growth rate of ZrC films increased as the input gas ratio decreased. The microstructure of ZrC films was changed with input gas ratio; small granular type grain structure was exhibited at the low input gas ratio. Angular type structure of increased grain size was observed at the high input gas ratio.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제8권8호
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• pp.766-774
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• 1998

32$0^{\circ}C$, 40%NaOH 용액의 autoclave에서 약 300wppm의 탄소를 함유하고 있는 15Cr-9Fe-balanced Ni 합금 판상시편에 대해 응력부식 저항성을 조사하였다. 부식시편은 $700^{\circ}C$, 100시간 동안의 열처리로 합금내부에 석출될 수 있는 가능한 한 많은 양의 크롬계 탄화물을 석출시킨 후, 다시 재용해에 의해 크롬계 탄화물의 형태를 조절하는 $800^{\circ}C$-$950^{\circ}C$범위의 최종열처리를 시행하고 급냉시킨 다음 U-자형으로 응력을 가하여 준비되었다. 최종열처리 온도가 올라감에 따라 시편들의 입계응력부식균열(IGSCC ) 전파속도는 $900^{\circ}C$까지는 거의 직선적으로 증가하다가 $950^{\circ}C$에서는 $700^{\circ}C$에서 얻은 값보다도 더 낮게 감소하였다. 즉, 크롬계 탄화물이 재용해되어 그 밀도가 감소함에 따라 IGSCC저항성이 감소하다가 완전히 재용해된 $950^{\circ}C$ 열처리 조건에서 오히겨 가장 큰 IGSCC 저항성을 나타내었다. 이와같은 최조열처리 온도에 따른 니켈계 합금 600의 부식거동은 입계에 존재하는 크롬계탄화물의 형태변화 때문이 아니라 입계에서 탄소-크롬계 탄화물-크롬간의 상평형에 의해 이루어지는 탄소의 입계편석량이 크롬계탄화물이 존재할 때에는 열처리 온도에 따라 증가하다가 그것이 완전히 재용해 되었을 때 가장 낮아지기 때문인 것으로 생각된다.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.98-102
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• 2000

The effect of vacuum heat treatment in the thermal sprayed ceramics coating on a capstan by either high velocity oxygen fuel(HVOF) or plasma thermal spray process was investigated. The coating materials applied on the capstan were tungsten and chrome carbides. In order to characterize the interface between coating layer and bare materials, hardness, adhesion strength, X-ray diffraction(XRD) and microstructural analysis are conducted. The adhesion strength of the carbide coated materials by HVOF process is over 500MPa compared to those of plasma coating process is 230MPa. In case of the carbide coated materials by HVOF process, the adhesion strength is increased to 15MPa and the porosity is reduced under 5% by vacuum heat treatment for 5 hrs at $1000^{\circ}C$. The XRD results reveal that the increasement is believed due to the phase stabilization of metastable $Cr_3C_2$ phase to stable $Cr_{23}C_6$ phase.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제43권8호
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• pp.492-497
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• 2006

SiC coating has been introduced as protective layer in TRISO nuclear fuel particle of High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (HTGR) due to excellent mechanical stability at high temperature. In order to inhibit the failure of the TRISO particles, it is important to evaluate the fracture strength of the SiC coating layer. ]n present work, thin silicon carbide coating was fabricated using chemical vapor deposition process with different microstructures and thicknesses. Processing condition and surface status of substrate.affect on the microstructure of SiC coating layer. Sphere indentation method on trilayer configuration was conducted to measure the fracture strength of the SiC film. The fracture strength of SiC film with different microstructure and thickness were characterized by trilayer strength measurement method nanoindentation technique was also used to characterize the elastic modulus and th ε hardness of the SiC film. Relationships between microstructure and mechanical properties of CVD SiC thin film were discussed.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.640-645
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• 2018

The design of non-precious electrocatalysts with low-cost, good stability, and an improved oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) to replace the platinium-based electrocatalyst is significant for application of fuel cells and metal-air batteries with high energy density. In this study, we synthesize iron-carbide($Fe_3C$) embedded nitrogen(N) doped carbon nanofiber(CNF) as electrocatalysts for ORRs using electrospinning, precursor deposition, and carbonization. To optimize electrochemical performance, we study the three stages according to different amounts of iron precursor. Among them, $Fe_3C$-embedded N doped CNF-1 exhibits the most improved electrochemical performance with a high onset potential of -0.18 V, a high $E_{1/2}$ of -0.29 V, and a nearly four-electron pathway (n = 3.77). In addition, $Fe_3C$-embedded N doped CNF-1 displays exellent long-term stabillity with the lowest ${\Delta}E_{1/2}=8mV$ compared to the other electrocatalysts. The improved electrochemical properties are attributed to synergestic effect of N-doping and well-dispersed iron carbide embedded in CNF. Consequently, $Fe_3C$-embedded N doped CNF is a promising candidate for non-precious electrocatalysts for high-performance ORRs.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.435-441
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• 2014

Silicon carbide-based ceramics and their composites have been studied for application to fusion and advanced fission energy systems. For fission reactors, $SiC_f$/SiC composites can be applied to core structural materials. Multilayered SiC composite fuel cladding, owing to its superior high temperature strength and low hydrogen generation under severe accident conditions, is a candidate for the replacement of zirconium alloy cladding. The SiC composite cladding has to retain its mechanical properties and original structure under the inner pressure caused by fission products; as such it can be applied as a cladding in fission reactor. A hoop strength test using an expandable polyurethane plug was designed in order to evaluate the mechanical properties of the fuel cladding. In this paper, a hoop strength test of the multilayered SiC composite tube for nuclear fuel cladding was simulated using FEA. The stress caused by the plug was distributed nonuniformly because of the friction coefficient difference between the inner surface of the tube and the plug. Hoop stress and shear stress at the tube was evaluated and the relationship between the concentrated stress at the inner layer of the tube and the fracture behavior of the tube was investigated.