Mechanical properties and surface characteristics of SiC fibers irradiated by swift heavy ions

SiC fibers were irradiated by 414.4-MeV Sn-112(27.3+) ions to different fluences (5.0 x 10(12), 6.0 x 10(13), 1.6 x 10(14), and 1.92 x 10(15) ions/cm(2)). Sn-112(27.3+) deposited its energy mainly via electron energy loss and passed through the SiC fiber. Then, the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of fibers were studied using a specific single filament tensile test and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed that the carbon concentration on the fiber surface increased while the silicon concentration decreased. Moreover, the addition of oxygen was found to correlate with an increase in ion fluence. Meanwhile, the fiber surface morphology of the least fluence (5.0 x 10(12) ions/cm(2)) irradiated specimen displayed no obvious changes and its diameter was slightly reduced. With successive increases of ion fluence, large grains/bubbles on the fiber surface first appeared and then disappeared, and the diameter of fibers evidently increased. Moreover, at the highest fluence (1.92 x 10(15) Sn ions/cm(2)) irradiated specimen, some fibers were brittle fractured. As a result, the mean tensile strength and the average elastic modulus of the fibers generally decreased with respect to the ion fluence. The degradation mechanisms of mechanical properties of SiC fibers under irradiation are discussed in detail.