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Heavy Liquid Metal Corrosion of Structural Materials in Advanced Nuclear Systems

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Abstract

Interest in advanced nuclear concepts using liquid metal coolant has increased in the past few years. Liquid metal coolants have been proposed for the next generation of small-sized nuclear reactors, which offer exceptional safety and reliability, sustainability, nonproliferation, and economic competitiveness. Heavy liquid metal coolants are investigated for advanced fast reactors that operate at high temperatures, reaching high efficiencies. Lead and lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) coolants are also proposed as coolants and targets of accelerator driven systems. High temperature, corrosive environment, high fast neutron flux, high fluence, and radiation damage, among other physical phenomena, challenge the integrity of materials in these advanced systems. Excellent compatibility with the liquid coolant is recognized as a key factor in the selection of structural materials for advanced concepts. In this article, we review materials requirements for heavy metal cooled systems with emphasis on lead and LBE materials corrosion properties. We describe experimental corrosion tests currently ongoing at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Development of Lead Alloy Technical Applications (DELTA) loop. DELTA is a facility designed to study the long-term corrosive effects of LBE on structural materials under relevant conditions of chemistry, flow, and temperature. The research studies will provide data of corrosion rates and corrosion mechanisms in selected steel exposed to high velocity (above 2 m/s) in flowing LBE at 500°C. Fundamental research studies will help support conceptual design efforts and further the development of heavy liquid metals technology.

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Acknowledgements

The work described here summarizes the contribution of the effort of several people and institutions in the United States and abroad. The test matrix selection is the result of numerous fruitful discussions. The authors want to thank the NRC faculty development grant number NRC-38-09-948. This material is also partially based on work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0005941.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science in Radiation and Dynamics Extremes, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    M. Caro, K. Woloshun, F. Rubio & S. A. Maloy

  2. Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    P. Hosemann

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  1. M. Caro
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  2. K. Woloshun
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  3. F. Rubio
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Caro, M., Woloshun, K., Rubio, F. et al. Heavy Liquid Metal Corrosion of Structural Materials in Advanced Nuclear Systems. JOM 65, 1057–1066 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-013-0663-7

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