Optimization of contact conditions between iron base alloys and mercury at room temperature

The intimate contact or wetting of iron-base alloys by mercury is obtained at room temperature by varying the environmental conditions, quasi immediately for Armco iron and a high purity Fe–25Ni alloy, after ∼30 min of contact for the 316L/Hg couple, after one week of contact for the T91/Hg couple. Careful mechanical polishing allows for wetting the notches of CCT specimens made in T91 steel with Hg, whereas chemical etching in 4%HCl is required to wet 316L SS identical specimens. Using ICP-OES measurements, values of solubility limit are given for both Fe (45.5 ± 0.4 wt ppm) and Cr (0.56 ± 0.07 wt ppm) in mercury at room temperature, the one of nickel (2.6 ± 0.39 wt ppm) being in agreement with the literature data.