Effect of Steam Oxidation on Strength, Elastic Modulus, and Strain at Fracture of Graphite 2020

摘要

Stackpole Carbon's graphite grade 2020, a candidate material for support posts in GA HTGRs, was oxidized in steam-helium mixtures to 25 wt % burnoff. The effects of the oxidation on ultimate strength, elastic modulus, and strain at fracture are reported. A large number of nonoxidized and oxidized tensile specimens were tested to failure. Average losses of 6.7 wt % in strength and 7.4 wt % in elastic modulus at 1% burnoff were obtained. No significant change in strain at fracture was observed for burnoffs up to 5%. The elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength of the oxidized samples correlated with bulk density. (ERA citation 03:028231)