ZIRCONIUM-GRAPHENE COVETIC MATERIAL FOR NUCLEAR FUEL CELL CLADDING APPLICATIONS

原文（中文）

A nuclear fuel cell cladding that includes a zirconium-carbon covetic material. The zirconium-carbon covetic material has a carbon component associated with the surface of zirconium particles. The amount of carbon present in the zirconium-carbon covetic material is in a range of greater than 0.1 wt % to about 25 wt % of the zirconium-carbon covetic material. The carbon component may include carbon nanotubes, carbon nanomaterials, graphene, or graphene nanoplatelets. The carbon component may be uniformly distributed within the zirconium matrix. The zirconium-carbon covetic material may be formed from a zirconium alloy. The zirconium-carbon covetic material may be configured for use in various types of nuclear reactors. The synthesis of the cladding involves a process of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The resulting nuclear fuel cell cladding offers improved performance and reliability for nuclear reactor applications.