journal article·2025-12

A comparative study of microstructures and thermal conductivities of nuclear graphite

Yibo Zhang, Derek Tsang, Qian Liao, Xu Qiao, Vinay Chauhan, Xianfeng Ma, Yuzhou Wang

Carbon Letters· Volume 35· Issue 6
Publisher page

Abstract

No abstract is available for this record. The assistant can identify its topic from the title, but cannot infer the study’s results.

Source: Not provided · Quality: missing

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies · Nuclear and radioactivity studies · Radiation Shielding Materials Analysis

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (74)

Show source-provided references
1. Marsden BJ, Haverty M, Bodel W, Hall GN, Jones AN, Mummery PM, Treifi M (2016) Dimensional change, irradiation creep and thermal/mechanical property changes in nuclear graphite. Int Mater Rev 61(3):155–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/09506608.2015.113646010.1080/09506608.2015.1136460 ↗
2. Windes WE, Burchell TD, Davenport M (2020) The advanced reactor technologies (art) graphite R&D program. Nucl Eng Des 362:110586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.11058610.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110586 ↗
3. Xiong D, Tsang DKL (2023) A multiscale modelling of polycrystalline nuclear graphite under effect of microcracks and incomplete-graphitized regions. J Mater Res 38(3):675–685. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-022-00849-y10.1557/s43578-022-00849-y ↗
4. Taylor R, Kelly BT, Gilchrist KE (1969) The thermal conductivity of fast neutron irradiated graphite. J Phys Chem Solids 30(9):2251–226710.1016/0022-3697(69)90152-8 ↗
5. Burchell TD (2012) 2.10 - Graphite: Properties and Characteristics. In: Konings RJM (ed) Comprehensive Nuclear Materials. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 285–30510.1016/B978-0-08-056033-5.00020-3 ↗
6. Balandin AA (2011) Thermal properties of graphene and nanostructured carbon materials. Nat Mater 10(8):569–58110.1038/nmat3064 ↗
7. Ozaltun H, Liepinya D, Avincola VA, A Review of Graphite Properties Relevant to Micro-Reactor Design, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2021, p. V08BT08A017.10.1115/IMECE2021-71879 ↗
8. Burchell T, Erdman Iii D, Lowden RR, Hunter JA, Hannel CC, Campbell A, The Fracture Toughness of Nuclear Graphite Grades, Revision 1, United States, 2022.10.2172/1875340 ↗
9. Zhang W, Jiao Z, Zhang C, He l, Xu G, Chen X, Liu B (2021) Diffusion of fission products in nuclear graphite: a review. Nucl Mater Energy 29:101100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2021.10110010.1016/j.nme.2021.101100 ↗
10. He Z, Gao L, Qi W, Zhang B, Wang X, Song J, He X, Zhang C, Tang H, Holmes R, Xia H, Zhou X (2015) Molten FLiNaK salt infiltration into degassed nuclear graphite under inert gas pressure. Carbon 84:511–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2014.12.04410.1016/j.carbon.2014.12.044 ↗
11. Campbell AA, Burchell TD (2020) 3.11 - Radiation Effects in Graphite☆. In: Konings RJM, Stoller RE (eds) Comprehensive Nuclear Materials (Second Edition). Elsevier, Oxford, pp 398–43610.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.12055-7 ↗
12. Burchell TD (2012) 4.10 - Radiation Effects in Graphite. In: Konings RJM (ed) Comprehensive Nuclear Materials. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 299–32410.1016/B978-0-08-056033-5.00091-4 ↗
13. Johns S, He L, Bustillo K, Windes WE, Ubic R, Karthik C (2020) Fullerene-like defects in high-temperature neutron-irradiated nuclear graphite. Carbon 166:113–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2020.05.02810.1016/j.carbon.2020.05.028 ↗
14. Niwase K (2012) Raman spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of point defects and defect clusters in irradiated graphite. Int J Spectrosc 2012:197609. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/19760910.1155/2012/197609 ↗
15. Seehra MS, Pavlovic AS (1993) X-ray diffraction, thermal expansion, electrical conductivity, and optical microscopy studies of coal-based graphites. Carbon 31(4):557–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-6223(93)90109-N10.1016/0008-6223(93)90109-N ↗
16. Shen K, Xu K, Yu S, Kang F (2021) The optical texture of PGA, Gilsocarbon, NBG-18, and IG-110 nuclear graphite. J Nucl Mater 552:153013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.15301310.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153013 ↗
17. Jiang M, El-Turke A, Lolov G, Ammigan K, Hurh P, Liu D (2021) Multiple length-scale microstructural characterisation of four grades of fine-grained graphite. J Nucl Mater 550:152876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.15287610.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.152876 ↗
18. Wu H, Gakhar R, Chen A, Lam S, Marshall CP, Scarlat RO (2020) Comparative analysis of microstructure and reactive sites for nuclear graphite IG-110 and graphite matrix A3. J Nucl Mater 528:151802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.15180210.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151802 ↗
19. Smith R, Kane J, Windes W (2021) Determining the acute oxidation behavior of several nuclear graphite grades. J Nucl Mater 545:15264810.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152648 ↗
20. Sheindlin M, Halton D, Musella M, Ronchi C (1998) Advances in the use of laser-flash techniques for thermal diffusivity measurement. Rev Sci Instrum 69(3):1426–1436. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.114877610.1063/1.1148776 ↗
21. Pavlov TR, Lestak M, Wenman MR, Vlahovic L, Robba D, Cambriani A, Staicu D, Dahms E, Ernstberger M, Brown M, Bradford MR, Konings RJM, Grimes RW (2020) Examining the thermal properties of unirradiated nuclear grade graphite between 750 and 2500 K. J Nucl Mater 538:152176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.15217610.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152176 ↗
22. Pavlov T, Vlahovic L, Staicu D, Konings RJM, Wenman MR, Van Uffelen P, Grimes RW (2017) A new numerical method and modified apparatus for the simultaneous evaluation of thermo-physical properties above 1500K: a case study on isostatically pressed graphite. Thermochim Acta 652:39–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2017.03.00410.1016/j.tca.2017.03.004 ↗
23. Wang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Zhu F, Chauhan V, Khafizov M, Ma X, Chang Z (2024) Experimental techniques for investigating thermal transport in nuclear materials. J Nucl Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2024.233278110.1080/00223131.2024.2332781 ↗
24. Windes W, Swank D, Rohrbaugh D, Lord J, AGC-3 Graphite Preirradiation Data Analysis Report, United States, 2013.10.2172/1088408 ↗
25. Hua Z, Schley R, Hurley D (2022) Local measurement of bulk thermal diffusivity using photothermal radiometry. Rev Sci Instrum. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.008922910.1063/5.0089229 ↗
26. Wang Y, Hurley DH, Luther EP, Beaux MF, Vodnik DR, Peterson RJ, Bennett BL, Usov IO, Yuan P, Wang X, Khafizov M (2018) Characterization of ultralow thermal conductivity in anisotropic pyrolytic carbon coating for thermal management applications. Carbon 129:476–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2017.12.04110.1016/j.carbon.2017.12.041 ↗
27. Wang Y, Hua Z, Schley R, Beausoleil Ii G, Hurley DH (2022) Thermal properties measurement of TRISO particle coatings from room temperature to 900 °C using laser-based thermoreflectance methods. J Nucl Mater 565:153721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.15372110.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153721 ↗
28. Carroll m, Baseline Test Specimen Machining Report, United States, 2009.
29. Carroll MC, Lords J, Rohrbaugh D, Baseline Graphite Characterization: First Billet, United States, 2010.
30. Chi S-H, Kim G-C (2008) Comparison of the oxidation rate and degree of graphitization of selected IG and NBG nuclear graphite grades. J Nucl Mater 381(1):9–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.07.02710.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.07.027 ↗
31. Swank D, Lord J, Rohrbaugh D, Windes W, AGC-2 Graphite Pre-irradiation Data Package, Idaho National Lab.(INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States), 2010.
32. Burchell TD, Erdman III DL, Lowden RR, Hunter JA, Hannel CC, Campbell A (2016) The Fracture Toughness of Nuclear Graphites Grades. ORNL/TM-2016/678 Rev 110.2172/1352770 ↗
33. Arregui-Mena JD, Worth RN, Bodel W, März B, Li W, Campbell AA, Cakmak E, Gallego N, Contescu C, Edmondson PD (2022) Multiscale characterization and comparison of historical and modern nuclear graphite grades. Mater Charact 190:112047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2022.11204710.1016/j.matchar.2022.112047 ↗
34. Johns S, Yoder T, Chinnathambi K, Ubic R, Windes WE (2022) Microstructural changes in nuclear graphite induced by thermal annealing. Mater Charact 194:112423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2022.11242310.1016/j.matchar.2022.112423 ↗
35. Ferrari A, Basko D (2013) Raman spectroscopy as a versatile tool for studying the properties of graphene. Nat Nanotechnol 8(4):235–246. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.4610.1038/nnano.2013.46 ↗
36. Ferrari A, Robertson J (2000) Interpretation of raman spectra of disordered and amorphous carbon. Phys Rev B 61(20):14095–14107. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.1409510.1103/PhysRevB.61.14095 ↗
37. Mohiuddin TMG, Lombardo A, Nair RR, Bonetti A, Savini G, Jalil R, Bonini N, Basko DM, Galiotis C, Marzari N, Novoselov KS, Geim AK, Ferrari AC (2009) Uniaxial strain in graphene by Raman spectroscopy: G peak splitting, Gruneisen parameters, and sample orientation. Phys Rev B 79(20):205433. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.20543310.1103/PhysRevB.79.205433 ↗
38. Eckmann A, Felten A, Mishchenko A, Britnell L, Krupke R, Novoselov KS, Casiraghi C (2012) Probing the nature of defects in graphene by Raman spectroscopy. Nano Lett 12(8):3925–3930. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl300901a10.1021/nl300901a ↗
39. Tuinstra F, Koenig J (1970) Raman spectrum of graphite. J Chem Phys 53(3):1126. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.167410810.1063/1.1674108 ↗
40. März B, Jolley K, Smith R, Wu H (2018) Near-surface structure and residual stress in as-machined synthetic graphite. Mater Des 159:103–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2018.08.04110.1016/j.matdes.2018.08.041 ↗
41. Maslova OA, Ammar MR, Guimbretière G, Rouzaud JN, Simon P (2012) Determination of crystallite size in polished graphitized carbon by Raman spectroscopy. Phys Rev B 86(13):134205. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.13420510.1103/PhysRevB.86.134205 ↗
42. Huang Q, Tang H (2022) A statistical analysis of pores and microcracks in nuclear graphite. Surf Interface Anal 54(1):37–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.701310.1002/sia.7013 ↗
43. Jiang M, Ammigan K, Lolov G, Pellemoine F, Liu D (2023) A novel method for quantifying irradiation damage in nuclear graphite using raman spectroscopy. Carbon 213:118181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2023.11818110.1016/j.carbon.2023.118181 ↗
44. Gawęda M, Wilczopolska M, Suchorab K, Frelek-Kozak M, Kurpaska Ł, Jagielski J (2023) Surface and in-depth structural changes in nuclear graphite irradiated with noble gases described with Raman imaging. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res B Beam Interact Mater Atoms 538:103–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.02.03610.1016/j.nimb.2023.02.036 ↗
45. Wen KY, Marrow TJ, Marsden BJ (2008) The microstructure of nuclear graphite binders. Carbon 46(1):62–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2007.10.02510.1016/j.carbon.2007.10.025 ↗
46. Cançado LG, Takai K, Enoki T, Endo M, Kim YA, Mizusaki H, Speziali NL, Jorio A, Pimenta MA (2008) Measuring the degree of stacking order in graphite by Raman spectroscopy. Carbon 46(2):272–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2007.11.01510.1016/j.carbon.2007.11.015 ↗
47. Zheng G, Xu P, Sridharan K, Allen T (2014) Characterization of structural defects in nuclear graphite IG-110 and NBG-18. J Nucl Mater 446(1):193–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.12.01310.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.12.013 ↗
48. Karthik C, Kane J, Butt DP, Windes WE, Ubic R (2012) Microstructural characterization of next generation nuclear graphites. Microsc Microanal 18(2):272–278. https://doi.org/10.1017/S143192761101236010.1017/S1431927611012360 ↗
49. Eapen J, Krishna R, Burchell TD, Murty KL (2014) Early damage mechanisms in nuclear grade graphite under irradiation. Mater Res Lett 2(1):43–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2013.84178210.1080/21663831.2013.841782 ↗
50. Lv S, Gao J, Jin Y, Zhou Z, Zhao Y, Yano T, Li Z (2022) The structure evolution in neutron-Irradiated nuclear graphite and post-annealing. Radiat Phys Chem 197:110156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.11015610.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110156 ↗
51. Cançado LG, Takai K, Enoki T, Endo M, Kim YA, Mizusaki H, Jorio A, Coelho LN, Magalhães-Paniago R, Pimenta MA (2006) General equation for the determination of the crystallite size La of nanographite by Raman spectroscopy. Appl Phys Lett 88(16):163106. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.219605710.1063/1.2196057 ↗
52. Baldan MR, Almeida EC, Azevedo AF, Gonçalves ES, Rezende MC, Ferreira NG (2007) Raman validity for crystallite size La determination on reticulated vitreous carbon with different graphitization index. Appl Surf Sci 254(2):600–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.06.03810.1016/j.apsusc.2007.06.038 ↗
53. Mironov BE, Westwood AVK, Scott AJ, Brydson R, Jones AN (2012) Structure of different grades of nuclear graphite. J Phys Conf Ser 371(1):012017. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/371/1/01201710.1088/1742-6596/371/1/012017 ↗
54. Vasudevamurthy G, Byun TS, Pappano P, Snead LL, Burchell TD (2015) Effect of specimen size and grain orientation on the mechanical and physical properties of NBG-18 nuclear graphite. J Nucl Mater 462:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.01210.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.012 ↗
55. Campbell AA, Snead MA, Katoh Y (2023) Understanding the effect of specimen size on the properties of fine-grain isotropic nuclear graphite for irradiation studies: physical, electrical, thermal properties. J Nucl Mater 576:154269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.15426910.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.154269 ↗
56. International A, ASTM C565–15 Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Carbon and Graphite Mechanical Materials, West Conshohocken, PA, 2021.
57. Fabbri L, Fenici P (1995) Three-dimensional photothermal radiometry for the determination of the thermal diffusivity of solids. Rev Sci Instrum 66(6):3593–3600. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.114644310.1063/1.1146443 ↗
58. Arai T, Sato S, Oku T, Schiffers H, Delle W (1991) Assessment of heterogeneity and anisotropy of IG-110 graphite for nuclear components. J Nucl Sci Technol 28(8):713–720. https://doi.org/10.1080/18811248.1991.973141910.1080/18811248.1991.9731419 ↗
59. Liu F, He Z, Wang Y, Zhu Y, huang B, Theodosiou A, Smith A, Jones A, Marsden B, Wang J, Zhou X (2021) The pores evolution in 3D view of nuclear graphite under ion beam irradiation. J Nucl Mater 557:153262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.15326210.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153262 ↗
60. Arregui-Mena JD, Edmondson PD, Campbell AA, Katoh Y (2018) Site specific, high-resolution characterisation of porosity in graphite using FIB-SEM tomography. J Nucl Mater 511:164–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.08.04710.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.08.047 ↗
61. Klemens P, Pedraza D (1994) Thermal-conductivity of graphite in the basal-plane. Carbon 32(4):735–741. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-6223(94)90096-510.1016/0008-6223(94)90096-5 ↗
62. El Sachat A, Könemann F, Menges F, Del Corro E, Garrido JA, Sotomayor Torres CM, Alzina F, Gotsmann B (2019) Crossover from ballistic to diffusive thermal transport in suspended graphene membranes. 2D Materials 6(2):025034. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/ab097d10.1088/2053-1583/ab097d ↗
63. Capasso A, Muñoz-Rojas F, Gupta B, Motta N, Placidi E (2020) Double grain boundary configurations on graphite surfaces. Carbon 170:630–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2020.08.04610.1016/j.carbon.2020.08.046 ↗
64. Simonis P, Goffaux C, Thiry PA, Biro LP, Lambin P, Meunier V (2002) STM study of a grain boundary in graphite. Surf Sci 511(1):319–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0039-6028(02)01511-X10.1016/S0039-6028(02)01511-X ↗
65. Krishna R, Madheswaran DK, Mummery PM (2025) Nuclear reactor graphite under irradiation: insights on microstructural degradation and deformation mechanisms from advanced transmission electron microscopy analysis. Carbon Lett. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-024-00844-910.1007/s42823-024-00844-9 ↗
66. Bagri A, Kim S-P, Ruoff RS, Shenoy VB (2011) Thermal transport across twin grain boundaries in polycrystalline graphene from nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Nano Lett 11(9):3917–3921. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl202118d10.1021/nl202118d ↗
67. Abhikeern K, Singh A (2025) Lattice thermal conductivity and phonon properties of polycrystalline graphene. Nanoscale Adv 7(4):1125–1133. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00772G10.1039/D4NA00772G ↗
68. Snead LL, Zinkle SJ, White DP (2005) Thermal conductivity degradation of ceramic materials due to low temperature, low dose neutron irradiation. J Nucl Mater 340(2):187–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.11.00910.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.11.009 ↗
69. Huang W-H, Tsai S-C, Yang C-W, Kai J-J (2014) The relationship between microstructure and oxidation effects of selected IG- and NBG-grade nuclear graphites. J Nucl Mater 454(1):149–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.07.05210.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.07.052 ↗
70. Nikolopoulos P, Ondracek G (1983) Conductivity bounds for porous nuclear fuels. J Nucl Mater 114(2):231–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(83)90261-110.1016/0022-3115(83)90261-1 ↗
71. Hua Z, Merighe P, Rufner J, Preston A, Schley R, Wang Y, Doran S, Hurley D (2023) Microstructure characterization of electric field assisted sintering (EFAS) sintered metallic and ceramic materials using local thermal diffusivity measurement. AIP Adv 13(9):095220. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.016062510.1063/5.0160625 ↗
72. Kane J, Karthik C, Butt DP, Windes WE, Ubic R (2011) Microstructural characterization and pore structure analysis of nuclear graphite. J Nucl Mater 415(2):189–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2011.05.05310.1016/j.jnucmat.2011.05.053 ↗
73. Yang F, Ikeda T, Snyder GJ, Dames C (2010) Effective thermal conductivity of polycrystalline materials with randomly oriented superlattice grains. J Appl Phys 108(3):034310. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.345733410.1063/1.3457334 ↗
74. Matthews AC, Kane JJ, Swank WD, Windes WE (2021) Nuclear graphite strength degradation under varying oxidizing conditions. Nucl Eng Des 379:111245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.11124510.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111245 ↗