Experimental setup for steel corrosion characterization in lead bath

Steel samples in a lead bath under controlled oxygen activity were studied for corrosion in a new experimental device (COXCIMEL). The static lead bath has a volume of ∼0.5 and was kept under helium or hydrogenated helium atmosphere. The oxygen content in the bath and in the flowing gas was controlled and monitored using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)-based sensors and an oxygen zirconia pump. The steel sample treatments were carried out in the temperature range of 450–500°C for ca 30 days. Special attempts were carried out to find steel embrittlement conditions. Samples were characterized after extraction from the bath. The description of the experimental setup functioning is given. The preliminary characterization of the samples and other results obtained are presented in this paper.