EFFECT OF NEUTRON-IRRADIATION ON THE MICROSTRUCTURES AND TENSILE PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT CARBON-FIBERS

Since carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite (C/C composite) materia ls have high thermal conductivity and good mechanical properties, they have been used as the plasma facing components in fusion facilities. As the plasma facing components are subjected to neutron irradiation i n the fusion reactors, it is necessary to use irradiation damage resis tant C/C composite materials as plasma facing components. Properties o f C/C composite materials after neutron irradiation are generally infl uenced by irradiation behavior of carbon fiber and carbon matrix. In p articular, the effect of irradiation on carbon fiber is important, bec ause it is less crystalline than carbon matrix. The purpose of this st udy is to evaluate neutron irradiation effects on the microstructures and tensile properties of nine kinds of carbon fibers and to find out the necessary knowledge to identify the radiation resistant carbon fib er.