Erosion-corrosion of RAFM JLF-1 steel in Lithium flow induced by impeller
The purpose of the present study is to investigate erosion-corrosion characteristics of reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel, JLF-1 (Fe-9Cr-2W) in flowing Li. The erosion-corrosion characteristics were investigated by means of corrosion tests with rectangular plate type specimen of JLF-1 in Li stirring pot, where the Li flow was induced by impeller in the pot. The test temperature was 500 C and 600 C, and there was no temperature difference in the Li stirring pot. The erosion-corrosion characteristics were evaluated by the weight loss measurement of the specimens and metallurgical analysis for the corroded surface. The results were compared with those obtained from the tests at static condition to feature the effect of Li flow on the corrosion. The weight loss of the specimens tested in Li flow was larger than that tested in the static tests. The corroded surface showed the local corrosion along lath boundary and grain boundary of JLF-1 as the same as that after the test at static condition. There were defects which were not observed in the specimen tested at the static condition. The defects were the trace of the erosion-corrosion. The corrosion attack to the boundaries made weak bonding between the subgrains, and the subgrains were peeled from the surface by the Li flow.
Effect of chemical potential of carbon on phase transformation and corrosion of JLF-1 steel in a static lithium
Abstract The corrosion and the phase transformation of RAFM (Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic) steel, JLF-1(Fe–9Cr–2W–0.1C), in static lithium (Li) were investigated. The specimens were exposed to static Li at 600 °C for 250 h. The carbon potential in Li was controlled by the carbide formation on inner surface of the crucible, which was made of Mo and Nb. These materials were expected to form stable carbide, and worked as carbon trap in Li, which resulted in the decrease in the carbon potential of Li. The effect of low carbon potential on the corrosion and the phase transformation was characterized by comparison with the test performed in the crucible made of Fe–9Cr and SUS316L (18Cr–12Ni), which has no effect as carbon traps. The low carbon potential caused by Nb and Mo caused the dissolution of carbon from the surface of JLF-1 specimen to Li. The depth of the phase transformation observed after the test in Nb crucible was deeper than that tested in Mo crucible. This was because the stability of the Nb carbide was larger than that of Mo carbide causing larger driving force for the dissolution of carbides from the surface.
Corrosion of ferritic steels by molten lithium: Influence of competing thermal gradient mass transfer and surface product reactions
Abstract An Fe-12Cr-1MoVW steel was exposed to thermally convective lithium for 6962 h. Results showed that the weight change profile of Fe-12Cr-1MoVW steel changed substantially as the maximum loop temperature was raised from 500 to 600°C. Furthermore, for a particular loop experiment, changes in the structure and composition of the exposed surfaces did not reflect typical thermal gradient mass transfer effects for all elements: the surface concentration of chromium was often a maximum at intermediate temperatures, while nickel (present at low concentrations in the starting material) tended to be transported to the coldest part of the loop. Such data were interpreted in terms of a qualitative model in which there are different dominant reactions for the various constituents of the ferritic steels (surface product formation involving nitrogen and/or carbon and solubility-driven elemental transport). This competition among different reactions is important in evaluating overall corrosion behavior and the effects of temperature. The overall corrosion rate of the 12 Cr-1MoVW steel was relatively low when compared to that for austenitic stainless steel exposed under similar conditions.