Oxidation Experiments and Kinetics Analysis of Nuclear Graphite ET-10 by Gas Analysis and Microstructure Observation

Yumeng Zhao, Yujie Dong, Yangping Zhou, Zhengcao Li and Zuoyi Zhang
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Yumeng Zhao: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Yujie Dong: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Yangping Zhou: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Zhengcao Li: State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Zuoyi Zhang: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Nuclear graphite can be used in fission and fusion systems due to its excellent nuclear performance and mechanical properties where the ability of oxidation resistance is usually concerned. Although the excellent performance of new graphite ET-10 was revealed by previous experiments regarding the accident conditions of a fission reactor, further studies are needed to oxidize the graphite under the conditions recommended by the ASTM D7542 standard. A test facility was designed and developed to oxidize the cylindrical specimen with a 10 L/min airflow. According to oxidation rates and microstructures of specimens, the chemical kinetics-controlled regime was determined as 675–750 °C, where the activation energy was obtained as 172.52 kJ/mol. The experiment results revealed the excellent ability of graphite ET-10 for oxidation resistance with lower oxidation rates and longer oxidation times compared with some mainstream graphite. The main reasons are the low contents of some impurities and the binder and the low active surface area due to the non-impregnation baking process undertaken to produce graphite with coal tar pitch coke. It should be noted that the evolution of oxidation behavior at the bottom part of the specimen (facing the airflow) was quicker than that at the upper part of the specimen. We also suggest that the abundance of oxygen supply and the good linearity of the Arrhenius plot are prerequisites of the chemical kinetics-controlled regime rather than sufficient conditions.

Keywords: ET-10; oxidation rate; nuclear graphite; gas analysis; activation energy; SEM; microstructure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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