A review of steel corrosion by liquid lead and lead-bismuth

Liquid metal technologies for liquid lead and lead-bismuth alloy are under wide investigation and development for advanced nuclear energy systems and waste transmutation systems. Material corrosion is one of the main issues studied a lot recently in the development of the liquid metal technology. This study reviews steel corrosion by liquid lead and lead-bismuth, including the corrosion inhibitors and the formation of the protective oxide layer. The available experimental data are analyzed by using a corrosion model in which the oxidation and scale removal are coupled. Based on the model, long-term behaviour of steels in liquid lead and lead-bismuth is predictable. This report provides information for the selection of structural materials for typical nuclear reactor coolant systems when selecting liquid lead or lead-bismuth as heat transfer media.