控制棒用双相高熵陶瓷断裂韧性与中子吸收性能的协同增强

doi:10.15541/jim20260136

摘要/Abstract

摘要： 核反应堆控制棒材料需兼顾中子吸收效率与力学性能,传统材料难以满足其严苛服役环境的要求。针对这一难题,本研究采用高熵设计策略开发新型陶瓷复合材料。通过无压烧结工艺分别制备了低熵GdAlO₃-Gd₂Zr₂O₇(GAP-GZO)和高熵REAlO₃-RE₂Zr₂O₇(REAP-REZO, RE=Nd, Sm, Gd, Eu, Dy)复相陶瓷。微观结构表征表明,两种陶瓷均呈现清晰的双相结构且无非晶相。与低熵GAP-GZO相比,高熵REAP-REZO具有更均匀的相分布、更细小的晶粒以及更高的密度。力学性能测试显示,REAP-REZO的维氏硬度更高,其断裂韧性较GAP-GZO显著提升了约21%。这种增强归因于裂纹偏转、桥接、分叉及微孔增韧等多种增韧机制的协同作用。在中子吸收性能方面,基于Monte Carlo N-Particle(MCNP)方法的模拟结果显示,REAP-REZO在宽中子能谱范围内(尤其是热中子能区)表现出稳定的中子吸收能力。当材料厚度为150 mm时,REAP-REZO对2.45 MeV中子源的中子吸收率可达93.7%。本研究证实,高熵陶瓷设计可以兼顾力学性能与中子吸收能力,为开发新型控制棒材料提供了一种有前景的可行路径。

关键词: 高熵陶瓷, 中子吸收性能, 断裂韧性, 控制棒

Abstract: Control rod materials for nuclear reactors require both high neutron absorption efficiency and good mechanical properties. However, conventional materials cannot withstand the harsh service environments. To address this challenge, a high-entropy design strategy was adopted to develop novel ceramic composites. Herein, low-entropy GdAlO₃-Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (GAP-GZO) and high-entropy REAlO₃-RE₂Zr₂O₇ (REAP-REZO, RE=Nd, Sm, Gd, Eu, Dy) ceramic composites were prepared by pressureless sintering. Microstructural characterization shows that both sintered ceramics exhibit well-defined dual-phase microstructures with no amorphous phase. Compared with GAP-GZO, the high-entropy REAP-REZO exhibits a more uniform phase distribution, finer grains, and higher density. Mechanical testing shows that REAP-REZO has higher Vickers hardness and an approximately 21% improvement in fracture toughness compared to GAP-GZO. This enhancement is attributed to a combination of toughening mechanisms, including crack deflection, crack bridging, crack bifurcation, and micro-pore toughening. Regarding neutron absorption, Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations demonstrate that REAP-REZO exhibits excellent and stable neutron absorption across a wide energy spectrum, especially for thermal neutrons. A 150-mm thick REAP-REZO sample achieves a neutron absorption rate of 93.7% against the 2.45 MeV neutron source. This work demonstrates that the high-entropy ceramics design can improve both mechanical properties and neutron absorption capability, providing an alternative route for developing advanced generation control rod materials.

Key words: high-entropy ceramic, neutron absorption capability, fracture toughness, control rod

中图分类号:

TQ174

钟玉洁, 李化栋, 王旭, 吴文昊. 控制棒用双相高熵陶瓷断裂韧性与中子吸收性能的协同增强[J]. 无机材料学报, DOI: 10.15541/jim20260136.

ZHONG Yujie, LI Huadong, WANG Xu, WU Wenhao. Synergistically Enhanced Fracture Toughness and Neutron Absorption in Dual-phase High-entropy Ceramics for Control Rods[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20260136.

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