Magnetic field effect on the deposition of nickel in molten Pb-17Li

Corrosion of structural materials by Pb-17Li liquid alloy may lead to deposit formation under the influence of the temperature gradient and the high magnetic field present in fusion reactors. Such a phenomenon can affect the operation of the liquid metal blanket. For this reason, the crystallization and deposition processes taking place in the liquid alloy under a magnetic field have to be studied. This work deals with the solubility and crystallization of nickel which occur in Pb-17Li under various magneto-thermal treatments. At 300 C, it is shown that the solubility of nickel in Pb-17Li is not affected by the magnetic field. The deposition process remains difficult to explain. However, from a qualitative point of view, differences are observed with regard to the size and distribution of deposited crystals, depending on the experimental conditions. (orig.)