0000000001116020
AUTHOR
Robert J. Hanrahan
Influence of preoxidation on the corrosion of steels in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic
Abstract Oxidation studies of martensitic/ferritic and austenitic steels have been conducted in static lead bismuth eutectic (LBE). Samples were preoxidized in an air/H2O gas mixture prior to immersion in LBE. Preoxidation films grown on HT-9 at 800°C for 48 h had a bilayer structure, an outer Fe-rich layer, and an inner Cr-rich layer. Glancing angle x-ray diffraction data found that two distinct structures were present in this oxide: Fe1+xCr2−xO4 spinel (cubic, face-centered cubic [fcc]) and (Cr,Fe)2O3 (rhombohedral, corundum). Magnetite formation (Fe3O4) was ruled out. Immersion in LBE resulted in the growth of an Fe-rich film on top of the preoxidation layer. It was concluded that the gr…
Relationships between the Impedance of Oxide Scales on Martensitic and Austenitic Steels and Corrosion Rate in Liquid Lead-Bismuth Eutectic
Abstract The impedance properties (resistance and capacitance) of oxide scales on the martensitic/ferritic steel HT-9 and austenitic stainless steel Type 316L (UNS S31603) were examined during immersion in lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) using a technique similar to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These scales were created by preoxidizing the samples in an air/water vapor environment at 800°C for various times prior to immersion in LBE. Calculation of oxide conductivity for samples immersed in LBE at 200°C for 200 h yielded σHT9 ≈ 4 × 10−7 (Ω × cm)−1 while σ316 ≈ 3 × 10−8 (Ω × cm)−1. The influence of temperature alone gave the anticipated Arrhenius behavior with Ea equal to 0.12 eV, whi…