Steam oxidation of boron carbide–stainless steel liquid mixtures

In the framework of nuclear reactor core meltdown accidents studies, the oxidation kinetics of boron carbide–stainless steel liquid mixtures exposed to argon/steam atmospheres was investigated at temperatures up to 1527 °C. A B–Cr–Si–O liquid protective layer forms on the surface of the mixtures in contact with steam. This protective layer gradually transforms into a Cr2O3-rich slag. Important quantities of liquid can be projected from the melt during oxidation. These projections are favoured by high B4C contents in the melt, high steam partial pressures and low temperatures. ition to stainless steel–boron carbide melts, simpler compositions (pure 304L stainless steel, iron–boron, iron–boron carbide and stainless steel–boron) were studied, in order to identify the basic oxidation mechanisms.