Spectroscopic and microscopic investigation of the corrosion of D-9 stainless steel by lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) at elevated temperatures. Initiation of thick oxide formation

Corrosion of 316/316L stainless steel by lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) at elevated temperature was investigated by examination of samples after 1000, 2000, and 3000 h of exposure at 550 °C, using SEM, XPS with sputter depth profiling, and TEM. The process by which localized oxide failure becomes extensive thick oxide formation was investigated. Under our experimental conditions, iron was observed to migrate outward while chromium did not migrate above the original metal surface. The thin oxide layer on the D-9 sample resembled 316L cold-rolled samples, while the thick oxide on D-9 resembled annealed 316L oxide. With continued exposure, thick oxide grew to cover the entire surface.