What the study found
The study found that modifying commercial nuclear graphite by impregnation and pyrolysis with polycarbosilane improved its resistance to molten lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE, a liquid metal coolant used in lead-cooled fast reactors). The authors report that the treated graphite became more compact and took up less molten LBE than untreated graphite.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this matters because permeation of molten LBE into graphite coolant channel material is a major problem for stable operation of lead-cooled fast reactors. They conclude that the modification process is a feasible way to obtain graphite coolant channel material suitable for such reactors.
What the researchers tested
The researchers modified a commercial nuclear graphite using impregnation and pyrolysis with a polycarbosilane solution. They then compared pristine graphite and modified graphite using mercury infiltration experiments and static molten LBE infiltration experiments.
What worked and what didn't
The modification process significantly improved the structural compactness of the graphite substrate and increased resistance to molten LBE infiltration. The infiltration amount of molten LBE into modified graphite was much lower than into pristine graphite under all tested infiltration pressures. The dense silicon carbide (SiC) coating formed from polycarbosilane also withstood the molten LBE infiltration tests.
What to keep in mind
The abstract presents these results as preliminary. It does not describe longer-term testing, operating conditions beyond the infiltration experiments, or other limitations.
Key points
- Modified graphite absorbed much less molten lead-bismuth eutectic than pristine graphite.
- Impregnation and pyrolysis with polycarbosilane improved graphite compactness.
- A dense silicon carbide (SiC) coating formed from the polycarbosilane showed durability in the infiltration tests.
- The study used mercury infiltration and static molten LBE infiltration experiments to compare graphite samples.
- The authors describe the method as a feasible route to graphite coolant channel material for lead-cooled fast reactors.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Graphite modification reduced molten LBE infiltration
- Authors:
- Zhao He, Jinliang Song, Zhanjun Liu
- Institutions:
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Institute of Coal Chemistry, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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