High temperature oxidation of Fe–9Cr–1Mo steel in stagnant liquid lead–bismuth at several temperatures and for different lead contents in the liquid alloy

This research project deals with the feasibility studies concerning the construction of an hybrid reactor for the transmutation of long-lived radioactive wastes. In this context, the liquid lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) is considered to be a good candidate for the spallation target material needed for the neutrons production necessary to the transmutation. In this hybrid reactor, the LBE, which is enclosed in a T91 (Fe–9%Cr) steel container, can induce corrosion concerns. If the oxygen content dissolved in Pb–Bi is higher than the needed content for magnetite formation, corrosion proceeds by oxidation of the steel. Previously, specific results were reported, obtained in stagnant liquid LBE at 470 °C. An analytical model taking into account the oxide layer structure has been carried out. It involves iron, oxygen and chromium bulk diffusion and diffusion via preferential paths such as liquid lead–bismuth nano-channels incorporated in the oxide layer structure and grain boundaries. In this paper, experimental results on corrosion kinetics, obtained at different temperatures with different percentages of lead in the lead–bismuth alloy, are presented. The model, adapted to the different experimental conditions, is compared to these kinetics and to experimental points coming from the literature at different temperatures in LBE, in pure lead and in pure bismuth.