Preliminary study on nano- and micro-composite sol–gel based alumina coatings on structural components of lead–bismuth eutectic cooled fast breeder reactors

In order to protect the structural components of lead–bismuth eutectic cooled fast breeder reactors from liquid metal corrosion, Al2O3 nano- and micro-composite coatings were developed using an improved sol–gel process, which includes dipping specimens in a sol–gel solution dispersed with fine α-Al2O3 powders prepared by mechanical milling. Accelerated corrosion tests were conducted on coated specimens in liquid lead–bismuth eutectic at 500 °C under dynamic conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the coatings are composed of α-Al2O3 and they are about 10 μm thick. After the corrosion tests, no spallation occurred on the coatings, and neither Pb nor Bi penetrated into the coatings, which indicates that the coatings possess an enhanced dynamic LBE corrosion resistance to lead–bismuth eutectic corrosion. The nano-structured composite particles integrated into the coatings play an important role in achieving such superior lead–bismuth eutectic corrosion resistance.