BARC/PUB/2014/0650

 
 

Preliminary corrosion studies of P-91 in flowing lead-lithium with and without magnetic field for Indian lead-lithium ceramic breeder test blanket module

 
     
 
Author(s)

Sree, A. S.; Tanaji, K.; Poulami, C.; Fotedar, R. K.; Kumar, E. R.; Suri, A. K.; Platacis, E.; Ziks, A.; Bucenieks, I.; Poznjaks, A.; Shisko, A.
(BARC)

Source

Nuclear Fusion, 2014. Vol. 54 (8): Article no. 083029

ABSTRACT

To study the corrosion of P-91 (9% chromium and 1% molybdenum) material with lead–lithium (Pb–Li) eutectic, two experiments were carried out in a forced convection loop, at eutectic temperature of 550 C. The first experiment was carried out at a velocity of 15 cm s−1 for 1000 h and the second experiment, at a velocity of 30 cm s−1for 2700 h. In both the experiments, P-91 sample coupons were exposed to Pb–Li flow in the presence and absence of magnetic field. Samples were analyzed using an optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). Micro-Vickers hardness testing was also carried out. Dissolution of elements into liquid metal is the main corrosion mechanism. Iron and chromium were selectively getting leached out from the near-surface region (~4μm) in the first experiment and molybdenum and manganese were also found leaching from a greater depth in the second experiment. The samples kept in the magnetic field showed a higher corrosion rate (~320μm/year) as compared with the corrosion rate (~200μm/year) of the samples kept in non-magnetic field regions. Hardness of the exposed samples was lower than the unexposed samples in both the experiments. Hardness was found to be low in the near-surface region for all the samples in both the experiments.

 
 
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