Compatibility of austenitic and martensitic steels behaviour in semi-stagnant Pb17Li

Compatibility tests between Pb17Li and 316L austenitic or 1.4914 martensitic steels have been performed with experimental conditions simulating the special features of the water-cooled lithium-lead blanket (low Pb17Li velocity, significant radial thermal gradient and short distances between hot and cold zones). In the 420-475 deg C temperature range, the results show that corrosion kinetics for both 316L and 1.4914 steels are quasi-linear and about 3 times lower compared to turbulent condition. From amount of recovered deposits, the mass transfer of 316L steel at 450 deg C appears to be equivalent to that of 1.1914 steel at 475 deg C. The same relationship was observed in flowing Pb17Li condition