Estimating Fracture Toughness in Heat Treated Ceramics Being Evaluated for Advanced Fuel Materials

摘要

The Generation IV Program is conducting researchrninto fuel coating and matrix material for advanced gasrnreactor designs. Various coating systems have been usedrnto microencapsulate fuel as an alternative to conventionalrnmetal and/or oxide pellet and cladding systems.rnHowever, technical risks associated with the use of theserncoating methods suggest the need for alternative materialsrnfor coating. In addition, these materials could bernused as a matrix in advanced higher temperature or fastrnreactor fuel designs.