Influence of surface treatment on corrosion resistance of steel in liquid Pb

This work deals with behaviour of steel in liquid lead environment and possibilities of corrosion resistance improvement. Liquid metal cooled systems are under wide investigation and development and represent a good alternative. It is necessary to find materials, which would be affected by liquid lead minimally. Austenitic steel 316L without coating and coated with TiSiC was studied in flowing liquid lead. Conditions of the experiment simulated real environment of the system. Deposition of protective barrier reduced the metals dissolution and diffusion of liquid lead into the steel substrate, degradation of substrate due to high temperature and mechanical stress. Presence of Si in the layer increased the surface ability to form stabile oxide and contribute to steel´s protection.