Neutron irradiation effects on the thermal conductivity and the dimensional stability of carbon fiber composites

In the continuation of our study on neutron induced properties changes of carbon fiber composites at low irradiation temperature and low neutron doses, an experimental study on the changes of dimensional stability and thermal conductivity has been performed for irradiation temperature 400-1000 degrees C and neutron doses 0.8-1.8 dpa. The investigated materials include: A 05 (2D felt-type CFC), CX 2002U (2D felt-type CFC), DMS 678 (2D woven CFC), N112 (3D CFC), N11 (3D CFC), FMI A27-130 (3D CFC) and MKC (1D CFC). The results show that dimensional changes in both parallel and perpendicular directions at irradiation temperature 400-600 degrees C are negligible, whilst the thermal conductivity changes (K-i/K-0) are between 0.3-0.87, under those irradiation conditions. The results are critically analysed and discussed.