Materials behavior in lithium systems for fusion reactor applications

Corrosion of ferritic steels by molten lithium: Influence of competing thermal gradient mass transfer and surface product reactions

“…Such applications require an understanding of the corrosion of the containment material by the liquid lithium. Work to date has shown that the resistance of standard ferritic (Fe-Cr-Mo) steels to corrosion by lithium is normally superior to that of the austenitic steels [1], but that mass transfer, carburization/ decarburization, and other possible reactions can be significant for the ferritic steels [2][3][4][5][6][7]. The purpose of the present study was to examine the corrosion of ferritic steels under thermally convective conditions at a temperature higher than previously studied to better understand the roles of preferential dissolution, thermal gradient mass transfer, and surface product reactions.…”

Molecular dynamics study on diffusion behavior of Li in α-Fe

“…As for stainless steels, which are the main structural materials of many serving fusion testing facilities [6,7], experimental observations show that the corrosion process is accompanied by the penetration of lithium into both the grain boundaries [8] and bulk materials [9], the dissolution of alloying elements into liquid lithium and mass transfer due to temperature and concentration gradients [10]. The loss of alloying elements results in the formation of a porous layer and even phase transformation [11][12][13]. Consequently, the modification of the microscopic and mesoscopic structure leads to embrittlement and weakening of the materials.…”

Influence of temperature and lithium purity on corrosion of ferrous alloys in a flowing lithium environment

“…A major concern arising from the use of lithium is its compatibility with the containment material. The corrosion behavior of several ferritic and austenitic steels has been investigated in thermal-and forced-circulation lithium loops [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Data on corrosion/mass transfer in liquid lithium systems have been reviewed to identify the influence of various material and system parameters on corrosion [11][12][13].…”

“…Such effects of specimen location, or downstream effects, were not observed for other test runs. Downstream effects have been observed in flowing lithium at 538°C [7], e.g., the dissolution rates of Fe-9Cr-lMo or Fe-2 l/4Cr-lMo decreased by ~30% over a distance of 152 mm in the isothermal test section.The corrosion specimens were examined metallographically to characterize the compositional and microstructural. changes.…”