Tellurium Corrosion of Type 304/304L Stainless Steel, Iron, Chromium, and Nickel in High-Temperature Liquid Sodium

Abstract

Investigating tellurium (Te) corrosion on structural materials is crucial for sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) due to radionuclide presence and knowledge gaps. In this study, Type 304/304L stainless steel (SS304), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and nickel (Ni) samples were immersed in low-oxygen environments with Te in liquid sodium at 773 K for 30 days. At 10 ppm oxygen, SS304 showed multiple oxide layers, including a compact NaCrO2 interlayer and porous Na-Fe-Ni-O outer layers. Tellurium penetrated through the porous layers but was hindered by the NaCrO2 interlayer. At 0.01 ppm oxygen, Cr had no oxide layer, while Fe and Ni had unstable ones. Tellurium-induced pitting was deeper in Fe and Ni compared to Cr. Oxygen levels and Cr composition are critical factors affecting stable oxide compound layer formation and mitigating Te-induced pitting.