SiC_f/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMC) are considered as structural materials in next generation fission nuclear reactors. However, thermal conductivity of SiC is reduced on the one hand at the highest temperatures, but also under irradiation. Titanium carbide, because of its peculiar thermal properties is an attractive material to be used as a matrix in a CMC to enhance the thermal conductivity of CMC under irradiation and at high temperature. In this study, we performed irradiation experiments on TiC, TiC_xSiC_(1-x) and SiC samples, with heavy ions at room temperature (74 MeV Kr, fluence from 10~(13) to 10~(15) ions/cm~2). This energy results in an irradiated layer of about 7 μm for TiC. Thermal conductivity of the irradiated layer is measured using IR radiometry as a function of fluence and composition. The structural evolution of the irradiated samples was investigated by Raman micro spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.
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