• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.1140-1151
• /
• 2023

Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM) fuel is emerging advanced fuel material for the future nuclear reactors. The fuel pellet in the FCM fuel is composed of matrix and a large number of TRistructural-ISOtopic (TRISO) fuel particles which are randomly dispersed in the SiC matrix. The minimum layer thickness in a TRISO fuel particle is on the order of 10^-5 m, and the length of the FCM pellet is on the order of 10^-2 m. Hence, the heat transfer in the FCM pellet is a multi-scale phenomenon. In this study, three multi-scale heat conduction models including the Multi-region Layered (ML) model, Multi-region Non-layered (MN) model and Homogeneous model for FCM pellet were constructed. In the ML model, the random distributed TRISO fuel particles and coating layers are completely built. While the TRISO fuel particles with coating layers are homogenized in the MN model and the whole fuel pellet is taken as the homogenous material in the Homogeneous model. Taking the results by the ML model as the benchmark, the abilities of the MN model and Homogenous model to predict the maximum and average temperature were discussed. It was found that the MN model and the Homogenous model greatly underestimate the temperature of TRISO fuel particles. The reason is mainly that the conventional equivalent thermal conductivity (ETC) models do not take the internal heat source into account and are not suitable for the TRISO fuel particle. Then the improved ETCs considering internal heat source were derived. With the improved ETCs, the MN model is able to capture the peak temperature as well as the average temperature at a wide range of the linear powers (165 W/cm~ 415 W/cm) and the packing fractions (20%-50%). With the improved ETCs, the Homogenous model is better to predict the average temperature at different linear powers and packing fractions, and able to predict the peak temperature at high packing fractions (45%-50%).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 1983

This work aims at characterizing silicon grains and its compacts. In order to remove iron silicon grains were washed with 5N hydrochloride at 60-7$0^{\circ}C$ for 170 hrs, and then followed the chemical analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometer X-ray diffraction analysis SEM observation and specific surface area determination by B. E. T. Mixtures of graded silicon particles with two or three different sizes were made into packings by mechanical vibration. The mixtures were used to make compacts with 10 mm in diameter and 70mm in length by isostatically pressing at 1, 208 kg/$cm^2$ (20 kpsi) and 4, 255kg/$cm^2$ (60 kpsi) respectively. Bulk densities of packings and compacts were measured. A slip made of magnesium nitrate solution and fine silicon particles was spray-dried and then decomposed at 30$0^{\circ}C$ for the purpose of coating the uniform layer of magnesium oxide on the surface of particles. The results obtained are as follows: (1) About two thirds of iron content could be removed from silicon by washing silicon powders with hydrochloride. (2) Uniform layer of magnesium oxide on the surface of silicon could be prepared by spray-drying suspension and by decomposing it. (3) B. E. T. specific surface area of fine silicon particles was 2, 826.753$m^3$/kg. (4) In the binary system with two sizes of 40-53$\mu\textrm{m}$ particles and <10$\mu\textrm{m}$ particles the maximum bulk density of packing was 55% of theoretical value and that of compacts made at the pressure of 4, 255 kg./$cm^2$ (60 kpsi) was 73% of theoretical value. (5) In the ternary system with three sizes the maximum bulk density of packing was 1.43 g/$cm^3$and that of compacts was 1.80g/$cm^3$which is equivalent to 77.6% of theoretical value. The composition of the closest compact was consisted of 50% of 40-53$\mu\textrm{m}$ particles 20% of 10-30$\mu\textrm{m}$ particles and 30% of <10$\mu\textrm{m}$ parti-cles.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.191-198
• /
• 2009

Statement of problem: Ceramics have been important materials for the restoration of teeth. The demands of patients for tooth-colored restorations and the availability of various dental ceramics has driven the increased use of new types of dental ceramic materials. Improved physical properties of theses materials have expanded its use even in posterior crowns and fixed partial dentures. However, ceramic still has limitation such as low loading capability. This is critical for long-span bridge, because bridge is more subject to tensile force. Purpose: The wire reinforced ceramic was designed to increase the fracture resistance of ceramic restoration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of wire reinforced ceramic. Material and methods: Heat pressed ceramic(ingot No.200 : IPS Empress 2, Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein) and Ni-Cr wire(Alfa Aesar, Johnson Matthey Company, USA) of 0.41 mm diameter were used in this study. Five groups of twelve uniform sized ceramic specimens(width 4 mm, thickness 2 mm, length 15 mm) were fabricated. Each group had different wire arrangement. Wireless ceramic was used as control group. The experimental groups were divided according to wire number and position. One, two and three strands of wires were positioned on the longitudinal axis of specimen. In another experimental group, three strands of wires positioned on the longitudinal axis and five strands of wires positioned on the transverse axis. Three-point bending test was done with universal testing machine(Z020, Zwick, Germany) to compare the flexural modulus, flexural strength, strain at fracture and fracture toughness of each group. Fractured ceramic specimens were cross-sectioned with caborundum disc and grinded with sandpaper to observe interface between ceramic and Ni-Cr wire. The interface between ceramic and Ni-Cr wire was analyzed with scanning electron microscope(JSM-6360, JEOL, Japan) under platinum coating. Results: The results obtained were as follows: 1. The average and standard deviation in flexural modulus, flexural strength and fracture toughness showed no statistical differences between control and experimental groups. However, strain was significantly increased in wire inserted ceramics(P<.001). 2. Control group showed wedge fracture aspects across specimen, while experimental groups showed cracks across specimen. 3. Scanning electron microscopic image of cross-sectioned and longitudinally-sectioned specimens showed no gap at the interface between ceramic and Ni-Cr wire. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that wire inserted ceramics have a high strain characteristic. However, wire inserted ceramics was not enough to use at posterior area of mouth in relation to flexural modulus and flexural strength. Therefore, we need further studies.