PURITY AND RADIOACTIVE DECAY BEHAVIOR OF INDUSTRIAL 2D-REINFORCED SICF SIC COMPOSITES/

Ceramic matrix composites based on SiC with continuous fibres (SiCf/ S iC) are considered promising structural materials for future fusion de vices. It was still to clarify, whether impurities in industrial SiCf/ SiC could jeopardise radiological advantages. Experimental impurity a nalyses revealed a two-dimensionally reinforced SiCf/SiC with the matr ix produced by CVI as very pure. Chemo-spectrometric methods were comb ined with radioactivation methods (CPAA, NAA). A quantification of the main constituents Si, C and O was added. Calculations with the FISPAC T-2.4 code and EAF-2 library identified elements detrimental for diffe rent low-activation criteria. For the neutron exposure, EEF reactor-st udy first wall and blanket conditions were simulated. The calculated S iCf/SiC included 48 trace elements. Even under conservative assumption s, all low-activation limits of European interest are fulfilled. Exclu sively the hands-on recycling limit for the First Wall can intrinsical ly not be satisfied with SiC. The theoretical goal of a SiCf/SiC deple ted of Si-28 (isotopic tailoring) is critically discussed.