Initial Assessment of Environmental Barrier Coatings for the Prometheus Project

Frederick, M.

Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory

关键词: Building Materials;    Alloys;    Nickel;    Refractory Metals;    36 Materials Science;   

DOI  :  10.2172/883656
RP-ID  :  MDO-723-0018
RP-ID  :  DE-AC12-00SN39357
RP-ID  :  883656

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Depending upon final design and materials selections, a variety of engineering solutions may need to be considered to avoid chemical degradation of components in a notional space nuclear power plant (SNPP). Coatings are one engineered approach that was considered. A comprehensive review of protective coating technology for various space-reactor structural materials is presented, including refractory metal alloys [molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), tantalum (Ta), and niobium (Nb)], nickel (Ni)-base superalloys, and silicon carbide (Sic). A summary description of some common deposition techniques is included. A literature survey identified coatings based on silicides or iridium/rhenium as the primary methods for environmental protection of refractory metal alloys. Modified aluminide coatings have been identified for superalloys and multilayer ceramic coatings for protection of Sic. All reviewed research focused on protecting structural materials from extreme temperatures in highly oxidizing conditions. Thermodynamic analyses indicate that some of these coatings may not be protective in the high-temperature, impure-He environment expected in a Prometheus reactor system. Further research is proposed to determine extensibility of these coating materials to less-oxidizing or neutral environments.