Projects per year
Abstract
Nuclear-grade graphite is a critically important high-temperature structural material for current and potentially next generation of fission reactors worldwide. It is imperative to understand its damage-tolerant behaviour and to discern the mechanisms of damage evolution under in-service conditions. Here we perform in situ mechanical testing with synchrotron X-ray computed micro-tomography at temperatures between ambient and 1,000 °C on a nuclear-grade Gilsocarbon graphite. We find that both the strength and fracture toughness of this graphite are improved at elevated temperature. Whereas this behaviour is consistent with observations of the closure of microcracks formed parallel to the covalent-sp 2 -bonded graphene layers at higher temperatures, which accommodate the more than tenfold larger thermal expansion perpendicular to these layers, we attribute the elevation in strength and toughness primarily to changes in the residual stress state at 800-1,000 °C, specifically to the reduction in significant levels of residual tensile stresses in the graphite that are € frozen-in' following processing.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 15942 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Jun 2017 |
Research Groups and Themes
- CDTR
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Damage tolerance of nuclear graphite at elevated temperatures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Integrated GaN-Diamond Microwave Electronics: From Materials, Transistors to MMICs - 'GaN-DaME'
Kuball, M. H. H. (Principal Investigator)
1/12/16 → 30/11/21
Project: Research, Parent
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Novel High Thermal Conductivity Substrates for GaN Electronics: Thermal Innovation
Kuball, M. H. H. (Principal Investigator)
8/07/13 → 8/10/16
Project: Research
Profiles
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Professor Martin H H Kuball
- School of Physics - Professor of Physics (Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Holder)
Person: Academic