Evaluation of the Phase Composition, Crystallinity, and Trace Isotope Variation of SiC in Experimental TRISO Coated Particles

The SiC layers in experimental tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) coated particles with zirconia kernels were evaluated for their phase composition, impurity levels, crystal perfection, and twinning of the crystallites in the layers. This evaluation was necessary to compare the different SiC layers and relate these properties to various quality tests and ultimately to manufacturing parameters in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coater. Identification of the various polytypes was done using electron diffraction methods. This is the only method for the unequivocal identification of the different polytypes. The 3C and 6H polytypes were positively identified. The SiC in some samples is disordered. This is characterized by planar defects, of different widths and periodicities, giving rise to streaking in the diffraction pattern along the [111] direction of the 3C polytype. Polarized light microscopy in transmission easily distinguishes between the cubic (beta) and noncubic (alpha) SiC in the layers and provides valuable information about the distribution of these phases in the layers. Raman spectroscopy was used to examine the distribution of Si in the SiC layers of the different samples. Two samples contain elevated levels of Si (similar to 50%), with the highest levels on the inside of the layers. The elevated Si levels also occur in most of the other samples, albeit at lower Si levels. This was also confirmed by the use of scanning electron microscope (SEM) electron backscatter analysis. Rietveld analysis using X-ray diffraction is presently the only reliable method to quantify the polytypes in the SiC layer. It was found that the SiC layer consists predominantly (82-94%) of the 3C polytype, with minor amounts of the 6H and 8H polytypes. Impurities in the SiC and PyC could be measured with sufficient sensitivity using laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The SiC and PyC layers are easily located from the intensity of the C(13) and Si(29) signals. In most cases the absolute values are less important than the variation of impurities in the samples. Elevated levels of the transition elements Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and Zn are present erratically in some samples. These elements, together with Ag(107) and Ag(109), correlate positively, indicating impurities, even metallic particles. Elevated levels of these transition elements are also present at the SiC/outer pyrolytic carbon (OPyC) interface. The reasons for this are unknown at this stage. NIST standards were used to calibrate the impurity levels in the coated particles. These average from 1 ppm to 18 ppm for some isotopes.