Preparation of Er2O3 coating on a low activation martensitic steel substrate via the route of sol–gel

As a promising candidate for anti-tritium permeation in fusion reactor, Er2O3 coatings have been paid much attention to recently. In this paper, starting from the precursors of Er(NO3)35H2O and collodion, Er2O3 coatings with dense and homogeneous microstructure, were successfully prepared on a CLAM steel substrate by sol–gel method. Effect of processing parameters on the microstructure of Er2O3 coatings was explored in detail, and a set of processing parameters with good repetitiveness was established. The coating prepared with those parameters has a strong bonding to the steel substrate, and no peeling-off or crack could be observed in the coating even though it was thermally shocked for 60 cycles.