Corrosion characteristics of reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel EUROFER by Li₂TiO₃ with excess Li

Abstract

In a solid breeding blanket, ceramic breeder pebbles are in contact with reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steel at high temperatures for years and accordingly form a corrosion layer on the blanket structural steel. Present study focuses on corrosion characteristics of EUROFER97 RAFM steel by an advanced breeder material of Li₂TiO₃ with excess Li (initial ratio of Li/Ti = 2.2) at 623, 823, and 1073 K under sweep gas (He + 0.1% H₂) flow. Formation of a thick oxide double layer was found on the surface of the EUROFER plates heated at 823 and 1073 K, while the corrosion layer formed at 673 K was < 1 µm even after 56 days. On the other hand, the changes that appeared on the contacted surface of the breeder pellet were insignificant. The growth of the corrosion layer shows that the corrosion caused by inward migrations mainly of Li and O from the breeder material will have little influence on mechanical property of the blanket structural steel.