Failure mechanisms in continuous-fiber ceramic composites in fusion energyenvironments

Silicon carbide composites are attractive for structural applications in fu sion energy systems because of their low activation and afterheat propertie s, excellent high-temperature properties, corrosion resistance, and low den sity. These composites are relatively new materials with a limited database ; however, there is sufficient understanding of their performance to identi fy key issues in their application. To date, dimensional changes of the con stituents, microstructural evolution, radiation-enhanced creep, and slow cr ack growth have been identified as potential lifetime limiting mechanisms. Experimental evidence of these mechanisms, the factors that control them, a nd their implications on component lifetime will be discussed. (C) 2001 Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V.