


3. UNDERLYING TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRESS 2001
The work for the years 1999-2001 for both Technology and Underlying Technology was mainly concerned with the study of SiCSiC composite materials. The work to be carried out for the years 1999-00 was delayed and this was mainly due to the fact that the samples required for these studies arrived in April 2000. This delay was eliminated in 2001 and all the work budgeted for was completed. Promising results have been obtained in the activity of SiCSIC bonding by rapid combustion processing. This activity is very important since a reliable bonding technique for these materials has to be developed if these materials are going to become possible candidates for fusion applications, even initially in the form of some components. Therefore, it is proposed that this activity to be continued in 2002 as part of the Underlying Technology. Further the Underlying Technology work on the micromechanisms of SiCSiC failure after irradiation has shown interesting results and funding for 2002 is requested in order to be completed. For 2002 no Technology tasks on the mechanical properties of SiCSiC were proposed since it was decided that new materials had to be developed. In order to understand the underlying processes which are responsible for the degradation of these materials under irradiation it is felt, and thus it is proposed as an Underlying Technology task, that some work on the mechanical properties of SiSiC after high fluence irradiations is needed.
The task TTMN-002 on "Active impurity content and neutron activation of SiCSiC" assigned for 2001 was successfully completed and this type of work will continue in 2002 under a new task assigned in order to study the activity of SiC fibers.
Concerning the task TTMA-002 starting in March 2001 the activity on the feasibility and safety analysis for the development of a high temperature irradiation rig was partly completed. Different associates having developed high temperature irradiation rigs were contacted in order to use their experience for such a development but their response was not encouraging. The allocation of the new task TTMS-001b_Del7 for 2002-03 and the encouragement from the Garching CSU for the development of such a facility contributed in taking the decision to proceed in 2002 with the development of a high temperature irradiation facility even on our own. The activity on the effects of neutron irradiation on W, which was also part of the same task, has not started because the material to be provided by CEA (chemical vapor deposited W) was not produced. The materials are expected in January or February so this activity can be completed in 2002.
Details on the work performed and the results obtained can be found in Annexes XVIII, XIX and XX.
Last Updated (Friday, 04 February 2011 16:20)