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Microstructural Characterization of Next Generation Nuclear Graphites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2012

Chinnathambi Karthik ,
Joshua Kane ,
Darryl P. Butt ,
William E. Windes  and
Rick Ubic
Chinnathambi Karthik*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA Center for Advanced Energy Studies, 995 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Joshua Kane
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA Center for Advanced Energy Studies, 995 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Darryl P. Butt
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA Center for Advanced Energy Studies, 995 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
William E. Windes
Affiliation:
Center for Advanced Energy Studies, 995 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA Idaho National Laboratory, 2351 N. Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Rick Ubic
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA Center for Advanced Energy Studies, 995 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: karthikchinnathambi@boisestate.edu
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Abstract

This article reports the microstructural characteristics of various petroleum and pitch based nuclear graphites (IG-110, NBG-18, and PCEA) that are of interest to the next generation nuclear plant program. Bright-field transmission electron microscopy imaging was used to identify and understand the different features constituting the microstructure of nuclear graphite such as the filler particles, microcracks, binder phase, rosette-shaped quinoline insoluble (QI) particles, chaotic structures, and turbostratic graphite phase. The dimensions of microcracks were found to vary from a few nanometers to tens of microns. Furthermore, the microcracks were found to be filled with amorphous carbon of unknown origin. The pitch coke based graphite (NBG-18) was found to contain higher concentration of binder phase constituting QI particles as well as chaotic structures. The turbostratic graphite, present in all of the grades, was identified through their elliptical diffraction patterns. The difference in the microstructure has been analyzed in view of their processing conditions.

Keywords

nuclear graphitegraphitizationtransmission electron microscopy
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 272 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2012

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