This volume focuses on recent developments and advances of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites for use in fission and fusion reactors, nuclear fuels and alternative energy applications. With the continued increasing demands for energy, nuclear energy has experienced a renewed interest. Recent developments associated with advanced fuel cycles have resulted in new research efforts on nuclear fuel materials. The effects of radiation on the properties of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites are also addressed.

This volume focuses on recent developments and advances of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites for use in fission and fusion reactors, nuclear fuels and alternative energy applications. With the continued increasing demands for energy, nuclear energy has experienced a renewed interest. Recent developments associated with advanced fuel cycles have resulted in new research efforts on nuclear fuel materials. The effects of radiation on the properties of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites are also addressed.

Preface.Introduction.Irradiation Effects in Ceramics.(GenlV) Next Generation Nuclear Power and Requirements forStandards, Codes and Data Bases for Ceramic Matrix Composites(Michael G. Jenkins, Edgar Lara-Curzio, and William E. Windes).Determination of Promising Inert Matrix Fuel Compounds (C. R.Stanek, J. A. Valdez, K. E. Sickafus, K. J. McClellan, and R. W.Grimes).Densification Mechanism and Microstructural Evolution of SicMatrix in NlTE Process (Kazuya Shimoda, Joon-Soon Park, TatsuyaHinoki, and Akira Kohyama).Optimization of Sintering Parameters for Nitride TransmutationFuels (John T. Dunwoody, Christopher R. Stanek, Kenneth J.McClellan, Stewart L. Voit, Thomas Hartmann, Kirk Wheeler, ManuelParra, and Pedro D. Peralta).Ceramics in Non-Thermal Plasma Discharges for HydrogenGeneration (R. Vintila, G. Mendoza-Suarez, J. A. Kozinski, andR. A. L. Drew).Piezoelectric Ceramic Fiber Composites for Energy Harvesting toPower Electronic Components (Richard Cass, Farhad Mohammadi, andStephen Leschin).Design Factor Using a SiC/SiC Composites for Core Component ofGas Cooled Fast Reactor. I: Hoop Stress (Jae-Kwang Lee and MasayukiNaganuma).Characterizations of Ti,SiC, as Candidate for the StructuralMaterials of High Temperature Reactors (Fabienne AudubertGuillaume Abrivard, and Christophe Tallaron).Influence of Specimen Type and Loading Configuration on theFracture Strength of Sic Layer in Coated Particle Fuel (T. S. ByunS. G. Hong, L. L. Snead, and Y. Katoh).Investigation of Aluminides as Potential Matrix Materials forInert Matrix Nuclear Fuels (Darrin D. Byler, Kenneth J. McClellanJames A. Valdez, Pedro D. Peralta, and Kirk Wheeler).Fluidised Bed Chemical Vapour Deposition of Pyrolytic Carbon (E.Lopez Honorato, P. Xiao, G. Marsh, and T. Abram).Ceramics for Advanced Nuclear and Alternative EnergyApplications.Strength Testing of Monolithic and Duplex Silicon CarbideCylinders in Support of Use as Nuclear Fuel Cladding (Denwood F.Ross, Jr. and William R. Hendrich).Subcritical Crack Growth in Hi-Nicalon Type-S Fiber CVI-SiC/SiCComposites (Charles H. Henager, Jr.).Electrical Conductivity of Proton Conductive Ceramics UnderReactor Irradiation (Tatsuo Shikama, Bun Tsuchiya, Shinji Nagataand Kentaro Toh).The Effects of Irradiation-Induced Swelling of Constituents onMechanical Properties of Advanced SiCISiC Composites (Kazumi OzawaTakashi Nozawa, and Tatsuya Hinoki, and Akira Kohyama).Behaviors of Radioluminescence of Optical Ceramics for NuclearApplications (T. Shikama, S. Nagata, K. Toh, 6. Tsuchiya, and A.lnouye).Author Index.