Temperature effect on the corrosion mechanism of austenitic and martensitic steels in lead–bismuth

Abstract Compatibility tests on the austenitic AISI 316L and the martensitic MANET II steels in stagnant PbBi were performed at 573, 673 and 823 K with exposures up to 5000 h. The change of the corrosion mechanism with increasing temperature has been evaluated. The results showed that at 573 and 673 K a thin oxide layer growth on the surface of both steels. By increasing the temperature to 823 K both types of steels were attacked by the liquid metal and dissolution of the steel alloying elements has been observed. The herein-reported experimental activities were performed in collaboration with the IPPE of Obninsk, where preliminary dynamic tests were performed in the experimental facility CU-2. The Russian ferritic–martensitic steel EP823 has been exposed to flowing PbBi at 623, 723 and 823 K for 700 h. After 700 h of testing, the surface of the EP823 samples showed for the three temperatures a compact oxide layer.