NEUTRON-IRRADIATION EFFECT ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF ALUMINA FIBER

This paper describes the neutron irradiation effects on the deteriorat ion of alumina fiber (made by Mitsui Mining Material, Almax), a typica l electrical insulation material. The material was irradiated at the r esearch reactor at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute with a maximum fluence of 5.6 x 10(23) n/m(2) (energy: E > 0.1 MeV). Tensile strength and tensile modulus of the specimen scarcely changed. Observa tion with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission elec tron microscope (TEM) did not indicate any changes in crystal or pore structure. However, the Weibull coefficient of tensile strength decrea sed as the irradiation dose increased. This suggests an increase in th e defect size distribution. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.