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Composite Zirconium Silicides Through an In Situ Process

2006; Wiley; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1744-7402.2006.02063.x

1744-7402

Jérôme Canel, Jérôme Zaman, Julie Bettembourg, Marion Le Flem, S. Poissonnet,

Advanced ceramic materials synthesis

Zirconium silicides are being investigated for use as neutron reflector materials for the next generation of nuclear power devices. Hot isostatically pressed monolithic Zr 3 Si 2 and reactive sintered Zr X Si Y composite are currently under development. The composite is obtained in situ and contains a ZrSi matrix embedding shell‐like Zr, Zr 2 Si, and ZrSi 2 domains with volume ratios depending on the initial Zr/Si ratio. Despite the lack of information on the mechanical properties of zirconium silicides, the composite structure is assumed to have enhanced fracture toughness; conditions to improve it further are discussed on the basis of microstructural observations of crack deflection.