Abstract
This work has been focused on the development of ceramic membranes for the filtration of colloids resulting from corrosion in the primary loop of PWR. SiBC ceramics were synthesized by the preceramic polymers route from a polyborocarbosilane (PBC) obtained from allylhydridopolycarbosilane. Single-dispersed PMMA beads with a size of 1.5 and 0.3 μm were prepared to be used as a porogen agent to lead to a controlled porosity of the selective layer. 3D micro-cellular objects with a circular shape were developed by uni-axial pressing with the addition of commercial PMMA beads to serve as a macroporous support. A crystallinity study at high temperature (> 1000 ° C) was carried out showing its influence on the stability of the material. The selective layer was prepared by dip-coating from various slurry formulations containing PBC and the prepared PMMA beads. The chemical and physical stability of the microcellular supports was studied by ageing tests in a simulated primary water chemistry. The filtration resistance was tested by means of tests on a filtration device connected to a laboratory loop which simulates the conditions of the PWRs.