碳化锆(ZrC)具有高熔点、良好的高温热稳定性、耐核裂变产物腐蚀、高热导率及较低的中子吸收截面等优良的物理、化学性能，是第四代核能系统用惰性基体燃料的重要候选材料。但目前ZrC的烧结温度高、材料显微结构粗化严重，限制了辐照性能的提升及在核能系统中的应用。本研究拟以含锆和碳的有机前驱体为原料，采用湿法合成制备高纯、超细ZrC粉体，结合高压放电等离子体烧结技术实现ZrC在温和温度下的致密化及细晶化。通过添加剂（Zr、VC等）的引入在碳化锆晶格中增加碳缺陷、固溶缺陷，以此促进烧结过程中的扩散传质，并通过添加剂的固溶-析出机制来调控材料的微结构。重点研究材料的缺陷及微结构等对辐照缺陷的捕获及复合机制，并考察材料辐照前后的高温力学、热学、蠕变等性能，阐明材料特性与辐照性能及高温性能的关系。本研究将形成具有自主知识产权的ZrC惰性基体材料，为其在核能上的应用提供重要的知识积累、数据支撑和技术支持。

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) has good physical and chemical properties such as high melting point, good thermal stability, high thermal conductivity, low neutron absorption cross-section as well as good resistance to the corrosion of nuclear fission products. Due to its favorable high temperature characteristics mentioned above, ZrC is being considered as one of the candidate materials for the production of the inert matrix for some fuel components of the generation-IV nuclear reactor systems such as gas-cooled fast reactor and high temperature gas reactor. However, it is very hard to sinter ZrC to be dense owing its strong covalent bonding and low diffusion coefficient. Therefore high sintering temperature is generally needed, which also caused the coarse microstructures in the obtained ceramics. The poor microstructures limited its irradiation property improvement and its application as the inert matrix materials. Ultra-fine and pure ZrC powder is synthesized by the solution-based processing method using soluble metal-organic (zirconium-bearing) precursor and organic carbon-bearing precursors as the raw materials. High pressure spark plasma sintering is chosen to promote the sintering ZrC ceramics with fine microstructures at moderate temperature. Additives such as Zr and VC are used to enhance carbon defects and solid solution defects in the lattice of ZrC. The microstructures are tailored by controlling the diffusion process of defects, the solution and precipitation processes of additives. Effects of the defects and microstructures on the irradiation properties of ZrC are investigated. The relationship between high temperature properties and microstructure is also studied. This proposal supplies important knowledge accumulations, data and technique supports about the ZrC-based ceramics as the inert matrix materials.