Microstructure of heavily neutron-irradiated SiC after annealing up to 1500 °C

β-SiC specimens were irradiated by fast neutrons up to 28 – 42 dpa at 480, 585, 730 and 735 °C. Post-irradiation annealing was carried out up to 1500 °C. Changes in macroscopic length and lattice parameter were measured. The swelling of macroscopic length was not recovered completely in the specimens irradiated above 585 °C (∼40 dpa) after annealing at 1500 °C. After annealing, lattice parameters of the specimens irradiated above 585 °C (∼40 dpa) were slightly shrunk compared to the unirradiated value. Microscopic defects were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Void formation was confirmed along grain boundaries in the shrunk specimens after annealing up to 1500 °.