• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.1390-1397
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• 2019

SiC coating and SiC/glassy carbon composite coating were prepared on IG-110 nuclear graphite (Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd., Japan) to strengthen its inertness to molten fluoride salt used in molten salt reactor (MSR). Two kinds of modified graphite were obtained and correspondingly named as IG-110-1 and IG-110-2, which referred to modified IG-110 with a single SiC coating and a SiC/glassy carbon composite coating, respectively. Both structure and property of modified graphite were carefully researched and contrasted with virgin IG-110. Results indicated that modified graphite presented better comprehensive properties such as more compact structure and higher resistance to molten salt infiltration. With the protection of coatings, the infiltration amounts of fluoride salt into modified graphite were much less than that into virgin IG-110 at the same circumstance. Especially, the infiltration amount of fluoride salt into IG-110-2 under 5 atm was merely 0.26 wt%, which was much less than that into virgin IG-110 under 1.5 atm (13.5 wt%) and the critical index proposed for nuclear graphite used in MSR (0.5 wt%). The SiC/glassy carbon composite coating gave rise to highest resistance to molten salt infiltration into IG-110-2, and thus demonstrated it could be a promising protective coating for nuclear graphite used in MSR.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1569-1579
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• 2021

This study aims to provide microstructural characterization for the matrix graphite which molten salt reactors (MSRs) use, and improve resistance to molten salt infiltration of the matrix graphite for fuel elements. Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) densified matrix graphite A3-3 (MDG) was prepared by a quasi-isostatic pressure process. After densification by MCMBs with average particle sizes of 2, 10, and 16 ㎛, the pore diameter of A3-3 decreased from 924 nm to 484 nm, 532 nm, and 778 nm, respectively. Through scanning electron microscopy, the cross-section energy spectrum and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, resistance levels of the matrix graphite to molten salt infiltration were analyzed. The results demonstrate that adding a certain proportion of MCMB powders can improve the anti-infiltration ability of A3-3. Meanwhile, the closer the particle size of MCMB is to the pore diameter of A3-3, the smaller the average pore diameter of MDG and the greater the densification. As a matrix graphite of fuel elements in MSR was involved, the thermal and mechanical properties of matrix graphite MDG were also studied. When densified by the MCMB matrix graphite, MDGs can meet the molten salt anti-infiltration requirements for MSR operation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.464-471
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• 2008

The electrolyte separator for thermal battery should be easily handled and loaded a large amount of the molten salt. Ceramic fibers, especially fibrous commercial glass filters were used as an electrolyte separator and the lithium based molten salts were infiltrated into the ceramic filters. The pore structures of the ceramic filter and the melting properties of the lithium salts affected to the electrolyte loading and leakage. During the infiltration, ions of $Li^+$ and $F^-$ in the molten salts were reacted with the glass fiber and caused to be weaken the fiber strength.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.402-410
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• 1997

Developing a salt core for squeeze casting process, two different salt cores(pure salt core and mixed salt core) were fabricated and investigated. Pure salt core was composed of 100% NaCl and mixed salt core was made by mixtures of NaCl with MgO(1%), $Na_2B_4O_7$(2%), and talc(1%) as a binder or a strengthening agent. Salt cores were compacted to various theoretical density, heat treated, and then squeeze-cast with molten Al alloy(AC8A). The compression strength of salt cores were measured and the squeeze-cast products were examined for shape retention, infiltration of molten metal into the cores, and microstructures. The shape of salt core compacted at above 75% of the theoretical density was maintained stably. The higher theoretical density of salt cores gave higher compression strength, and the compression strength of mixed salt core was higher than that of pure salt core. Namely at 90% theoretical density, the compression strength of mixed salt core was $6.3 kg/mm^2$, compared to $4.6 kgmm^2$ for pure salt core. At a squeeze casting pressure of $1000 kg/cm^2$, molten Al alloy was infiltrated into pure salt core of under 85% of the theoretical density. At squeeze casting pressure of $1000 kg/cm^2$, only mixed salt core above 90% of the theoretical density were valid, but the shape of the core was altered in the case of pure salt core at 90% of theoretical density. A key factor for developing a salt core for squeeze casting process was estimated as the ultimate compressive strength of salt core.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1161-1166
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• 2022

Green pitch coke with an average particle size of 2 mm was adopted as densifier and added to the raw materials of conventional A3-3 matrix graphite (MG) to prepare modified A3-3 matrix graphite (MMG) by the quasi-isostatic molding method. The structure, mechanical and thermal properties were assessed. Compared with MG, MMG had a more compact structure, and exhibited improved properties of higher mechanical strength, higher thermal conductivity and better molten salt barrier performance. Notably, under the same infiltration pressure of 5 atm, the fluoride salt occupation of MMG was only 0.26 wt%, whereas it was 15.82 wt% for MG. The densification effect of green pitch coke endowed MMG with improved properties for potential use in the spherical fuel elements of molten salt reactor.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.648-652
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• 2009

Ceramic fiber separator is the promising material for thermal battery system because it reduces the production cost and offers the potential to a new application compared to a pellet type electrolyte. The electrolyte separator for thermal battery should be easily handled and loaded a large amount of the molten lithium salt. Ceramic fibers were used as an electrolyte separator and the lithium based molten salts were infiltrated into the ceramic filters. Leakage of molten salt (several lithium salts) leads to short-circuit during the thermal battery operation. In this study, a uniform and fine SiOC mat with fibers ranging from 1 to 3 ${\mu}m$ was obtained by electrospinning of polycarbosilane and pyrolysis. The optimum spinning conditions for obtaining fine diameters of SiOC fiber were controlled by the solution composition and concentration, applied voltage and spinning rate, release rate by porosity. The pore structures of the ceramic filter and the melting properties of the lithium salts affected to the electrolyte loading and leakage. The importance of the fiber size and porosity and their control was discussed and the mechanical properties were also discussed.