Corrosion susceptibility comparison of EUROFER steel in contact two lithium silicate breeders

Corrosion susceptibility of EUROFER steel in contact with two ceramic breeders with different lithium content was evaluated at the representative temperature of operation (550 °C). As a first approach, corrosion tests were performed in vacuum atmosphere up to 2880 h. Although the weight change was negligible during the tests, the results showed corrosion attack producing a double oxide corrosion layer with different thickness depending on the ceramic breeder. Nevertheless, in both beds the composition of corrosion products was similar. The microstructural studies by optical and SEM/EDX revealed that the corrosion mechanism could be attributed to exfoliation process.