Preliminary corrosion studies of IN-RAFM steel with stagnant Lead Lithium at 550 C

Corrosion of Indian RAFMS (reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel) material with liquid metal, Lead Lithium ( Pb-Li) has been studied under static condition, maintaining Pb-Li at 550 C for different time durations, 2500, 5000 and 9000 hours. Corrosion rate was calculated from weight loss measurements. Microstructure analysis was carried out using SEM and chemical composition by SEM-EDX measurements. Micro Vickers hardness and tensile testing were also carried out. Chromium was found leaching from the near surface regions and surface hardness was found to decrease in all the three cases. Grain boundaries were affected. Some grains got detached from the surface giving rise to pebble like structures in the surface micrographs. There was no significant reduction in the tensile strength, after exposure to liquid metal. This paper discusses the experimental details and the results obtained.