Corrosion behaviour of steels and refractory metals and tensile features of steels exposed to flowing PbBi in the LECOR loop

An experimental activity has been started using the LECOR loop at the ENEA Brasimone centre to investigate the corrosion behaviour of steels and refractory metals as well as the tensile properties of steels exposed to flowing liquid lead bismuth with low oxygen activity. The oxygen content in the liquid metal was controlled and monitored by a dedicated system. The compatibility test was performed at 673 K and the corrosion and tensile results herein reported concern the first 1500-h run of the loop operation. All the materials tested suffered from liquid metal attack exhibiting a weight loss. The consequent evaluation of the corrosion rate showed that, under the given test conditions, the refractory metals are more resistant than the steels. The tensile properties of austenitic steel are not affected by the liquid metal corrosion, while the martensitic steel exhibited a mixed brittle–ductile fracture surface.