Abstract:In this work, the interactions between tungsten~W! and silicon carbide~SiC! in Sigma TM SiC fibers at high temperatures were characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. These fibers could have the potential for use in fusion-related applications owing to their high thermal conductivity compared with pure SiC-based fibers. The as-received fibers were composed of a 100-mm-thick shell of radially textured b-SiC grains and a 15-mm-thick tungsten core, composed of a few hundreds of nm-sized elongated tungsten grains. The interfaces between the tungsten and the SiC and the SiC and the outer coatings were sharp and smooth. After heat treatment at 1,6008C for 3 h in Ar, the tungsten core reacted with SiC to form a rough interface surface. Inside the core, W 5 Si 3 , W 3 Si, and W 2 C phases were detected using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron-diffraction techniques. The mechanical properties of the fibers deteriorate after the heat treatment.
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