A Graphene Enhanced SiC - SiC Ceramic Composite Bonding Solution for Generation IV

Ceramic matrix SiC-SiC composites are currently the leading candidate for Generation IV nuclear reactor fuel cladding and other structural components, due to their excellent thermal and chemical stability under extreme conditions. However, robustly joining SiC structures when exposed to such harsh operating conditions still presents a major roadblock. A novel bonding joint compound leveraging graphene enhancement is proposed for overcoming the difficulties associated with the promising Ti-Si- C diffusion bonding system. The two-dimensional nanostructure of graphene enables thin layers of carbon to be wrapped around Ti and Si particles, promoting a highly reactive and unique bonding interface. Through intelligent joint compound design, it is anticipated that the interface composition and microstructure can be tuned to address critical bonding challenges. Additional work will be done to characterize the fabricated joints mechanically, chemically and microscopically. The key metric for Phase 1 will include mechanical performance under bending and will include a demonstration of the optimized joint compound for bonding SiC ceramic matrix composites relevant to nuclear fuel cladding. Phase 2 will be directed at joining SiC tubular composites and expand to address anticipated irradiation, corrosion and thermal stability. The research team’s expertise in materials design and development, as well as expertise in preparation and evaluation of composite materials will ensure the success of this project.