MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF NEUTRON-IRRADIATED CARBON-CARBON COMPOSITES FOR PLASMA-FACING COMPONENTS

Mechanical properties of three kinds of felt-type or unidirectional ca rbon-carbon composites (CFC) were examined after neutron irradiation o f 2 x 10(25) n/m(2) (E > 29 fJ) at around 1000 degrees C. CFCs include d CX-2002U, MFC-1 and CC-312. A fine-grained isotropic graphite IG-110 was also irradiated as a reference material. Dimensional changes, You ng's moduli, bending and compressive strengths were measured on these materials. The main results obtained are: (1) densification was observ ed for all the irradiated materials here, (2) no pronounced increases in the strengths and Young's moduli was observed for CFCs. The facts i ndicate that the microstructure of the CFCs examined in the present st udy is fairly unstable in the neutron irradiation environment.