PEffect of exposure to supercritical water on corrosion behaviour of selected materials

Abstract

Titanium stabilized stainless steel 08Ch18N10T is widely used in VVER nuclear power plants. The alloy 800H is a very promising structural material for application in future nuclear power plants working under more severe working conditions. Thus, both materials were exposed above the critical point of water at 395 °C, 25 MPa for 500 and 2700h. The effect of such exposures was evaluated based on analyses of microstructure via scanning electron microstructure involving chemical and crystallographic analyses. The thin oxide layers were further described by X-ray diffraction. The stainless steel 08Ch18N10T proved very good and comparable corrosion resistance with highly alloyed 800H at the given environment. In both cases, the oxide layer was very thin even after long exposure.