Corrosion of Modified 9Cr–1Mo Steel in Pb–17Li in a Rotating Disc Experiment at 773 K

A rotating disc type corrosion test facility has been developed to study the compatibility of structural steels in lead–lithium eutectic at selected temperatures and flow velocities. The compatibility of a modified 9Cr–1Mo steel (P91) disc in Pb–17Li was studied at 773 K and 700 revolutions per minute during an exposure of 2,000 h. Results indicated that weight loss occurred at a rate of 4.2 µg/cm2 h for a total duration of 2,000 h. The corrosion mechanism was governed by dissolution of iron and chromium from the sample surface into molten Pb–17Li. The depth of dissolution of major alloying elements and selective removal of the Fe and Cr depleted surface layers depended upon the variation of linear flow velocities along the radial direction.