Compatibility of CLAM steel weldments with static LiPb alloy at 550 °C

CLAM steel is considered as a structural material to be used in the Test Blanket Module as a barrier or blanket adjacent to liquid LiPb in fusion reactors. In this paper, CLAM steel is welded by tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, and the compatibility of the weldment with liquid LiPb is tested. Specimens were corroded in static liquid LiPb, with corrosion times of 500 h and 1000 h, at 550 °C, and the corresponding weight losses are 0.272 mg/cm² and 0.403 mg/cm² respectively. Also the corrosion rate decreases with increased corrosion time. In the as-welded condition, corrosion resistance of the weld zone is higher than that of the HAZ (Heat Affected Zone). Likely, thick martensite lath and large residual stresses at the welding zone result in higher corrosion rates. The compatibility of CLAM steel weld joints with high temperature liquid LiPb can be improved to some extent through a post-weld tempering process. The surface of the as-welded CLAM steel is uniformly corroded and the concentration of Cr on the surface decreases by about 50% after corrosion. Penetration of LiPb into the matrix is observed for neither the as-welded nor the as-tempered conditions. Influenced by thick martensite lath and large residual stresses, the welded area, especially the weld zone, is easily corroded, therefore it is of primary importance to protect the welded area in the solid blanket of the fusion reactor.     

Preliminary experiments on the corrosion of CLAM steel in flowing eutectic LiPb

China low activation martensitic steel (CLAM), which is one of the RAFMs and under development in ASIPP, is considered as the primary candidate structural material for blankets in FDS series fusion reactors and will be in contact with the liquid breeder LiPb, so its corrosion behavior is of significance for its successful application. In the thermal convection LiPb loop DRAGON-I, the corrosion experiment of CLAM in flowing LiPb at 480 °C was performed up to about 2500 h to evaluate the corrosion behavior of CLAM in LiPb. The exposed samples were observed and analyzed, respectively, by metallography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy after 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 h corrosion experiments, respectively. The results show that the corrosive attack started with the dissolution of the passivated oxides formed during the heat treatment on the surface of CLAM steel. Then the corrosive attack continued further into the steel matrix. The weight loss was about 0.38 mg/cm² after 2500 h exposure.     

Mechanical properties of 9Cr–1W reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel weldment prepared by electron beam welding process

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the weldments prepared from 9Cr–1W reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steel using electron beam welding (EBW) process were studied. Microstructure consists of tempered lath martensite where precipitates decorating the boundaries in post weld heat treated (PWHT) condition. Lath and precipitate sizes were found to be finer in the weld metal than in base metal. Accordingly, hardness of the weld metal was found to be higher than the base metal. Tensile strength of the cross weldment specimen was 684 MPa, which was comparable with the base metal tensile strength of 670 MPa. On the other hand, DBTT of 9Cr–1W weld metal in as-welded condition is similar to that reported for TIG weld metal in PWHT condition.     

硅对CLAM钢微观结构和力学性能的影响

文章研究了合金元素硅对CLAM钢的力学性能和微观结构的影响。实验表明，在CLAM钢中添加0.2％的Si会使其屈服强度和抗拉强度明显提高，同时使CLAM钢的韧脆转变温度升高，韧性降低。在光学显微镜下观察，CLAM钢呈现回火马氏体组织，Si的添加使奥氏体晶粒细化，致使CLAM钢的强度升高、韧性降低。在透射电子显微镜下观察，回火板条马氏体是其主要结构，存在针状和颗粒状两种形态的碳化物;利用透射电子显微镜选区衍射方法可知，呈颗粒状的碳化物是M23C6型碳化物。Si的添加使马氏体板条的宽度变小。     

Mechanical properties of martensitic steels after exposure to flowing liquid metals

This paper describes the tensile test results of martensitic steels EUROFER 97 and T91 after exposure to flowing Pb-17Li and Pb-55.5Bi alloy, respectively. The corrosion tests were performed in LIFUS II loop (Pb-17Li) and LECOR loop (Pb-55.5Bi) located in the ENEA Brasimone Center. Tensile test were carried in SYNTECH test machine under Ar atmosphere with an extension rate of 2 mm/min, and test temperature for EUROFER and T91 steels were at 480 and 400 °C respectively. The exposure of EUROFER steel to the liquid Pb-17Li did not affect its mechanical properties, while the ductility of T91 steel was deteriorated after exposed to flowing liquid Pb-55.5Bi.     

Microstructure and its influence on mechanical properties of CLAM steel

The microstructure of China Low Activation Martensitic steel (CLAM) and its influence on mechanical properties were investigated. The tensile test showed that the strength of CLAM (HEAT 0603A) was higher than that of HEAT 0408B at room temperature, and the reverse results were obtained at elevated temperatures. The results indicated that the microstructure was composed of dispersived carbide particles and lath martensite with high dislocation density. The main precipitation phases were Cr-rich M₂₃C₆ carbides precipitated mainly along the lath boundaries and prior-austenite grain boundaries and Ta-rich MX particles precipitated mainly in the laths and lath boundaries. The finer lath was the main reason for the higher strength of HEAT 0603A compared with HEAT 0408B at room temperature; contrasted with the lower strength at high temperature. Heavier hot forging deformation degree was considered as the main possible reason for the decrease of martensite lath width in HEAT 0603A.     

Corrosion and deposition of ferrous alloys in molten lead-bismuth

This paper reports corrosion and deposition data from tests carried out with liquid eutectic lead-bismuth (Pb-55 at.% Bi) filled steel tubes (austenitic and martensitic) under a thermal gradient (500-280 °C) for 3000 h. For the austenitic steel, the surface exposed to Pb-55Bi exhibited a ferritic corrosion layer depleted in nickel and chromium at temperature above 450 °C. In the temperature range 450-360 °C, deposits composed of iron and chromium were found. There is a temperature effect on composition with a change from iron-rich to chromium-rich with decreasing temperature. For the martensitic steel, a corrosion without corrosion layer was observed above 480 °C. Only one type of deposit consisting of 98Fe-2Cr was found in the 400-480 °C temperature range.     

Compatibility of reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel JLF-1 with liquid metals Li and Pb–17Li

The corrosion of reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel, JLF-1 (Fe–9Cr–2W–0.1C), in high-purity Li was quite small. However, carbon in the steel matrix was depleted by the immersion to the Li. The depletion caused the phase transformation of the steel surface in which the morphology of the steel surface changed to ferrite structure from initial martensite structure. The phase transformation degraded the mechanical property of the steel. However, the carbon depletion and the phase transformation of the steel were suppressed in carbon doped Li. The carbon in the steel was chemically stable and did not dissolve into the Li when the carbon potential in the Li was high. The concentration of nitrogen and oxygen must be kept as low as possible because the corrosion was larger when the concentration of oxygen or nitrogen in the Li was higher. The chemical reaction between the steel and the Li compounds of Li₃N and Li₂O was also investigated. The corrosion of the JLF-1 steel in Pb–17Li was summarized as the dissolution of Fe and Cr from the steel into the melt. The corrosion of the specimen with Er₂O₃ coating fabricated by metal organic decomposition process in the Li and the Pb–17Li was investigated. The coating was deformed, cracked and partially exfoliated in the liquid metals, though the oxide itself was chemically stable in the liquid breeders. The damage was probably made by the stress, which was generated by a large difference of the thermal expansion ratio between the solidified Li or Pb–17Li and the coating during a heat up and a cool down process of the corrosion test.     

液态锂铅合金中316L不锈钢的静态腐蚀行为

采用挂片法、失重法和金相分析,开展了结构材料316L不锈钢在液态锂铅(LiPb)合金中静态腐蚀行为的研究.研究结果表明:316L不锈钢中的组分元素,在液态LiPb合金中发生了溶解和质量迁移,这是导致材料腐蚀的主要原因,而温度和合金中的氧含量是影响静态腐蚀行为最重要的参数.     

中国低活化马氏体钢CLAM研究进展

低活化铁素体/马氏体钢(RAFM钢)被普遍认为是未来聚变示范堆和聚变动力堆的首选结构材料。国际上给予了高度重视,许多国家都在研发其特有的RAFM钢。中科院等离子体物理研究所在与国内外多家单位的合作下发展了中国低活化马氏体钢———CLAM。本文总结了CLAM钢研制发展的主要进展,包括其成分优化设计、冶炼加工制备工艺、物理性能、机械性能、辐照性能及与液态LiPb的相容性等测试与研究以及各种焊接工艺研究等,并对今后的发展方向进行了展望。     

聚变驱动次临界堆双冷嬗变包层材料活化计算与分析

对聚变驱动次临界堆 (FDS Ⅰ )包层进行了材料活化计算与分析。利用多功能中子学程序系统VisualBUS1 .0及多群数据库HENDL1 .0 /MG进行中子输运计算 ,以获得包层各个功能区的中子注量率能谱 ;在此基础上 ,使用欧洲活化计算程序FISPACT及IAEA聚变活化数据库FENDL/A 2 .0分别对停堆初期包层不同功能区的剂量率水平和衰变余热水平、停堆后期结构材料与氚增殖剂 /冷却剂的活化性能及其杂质的控制要求进行了计算及分析。     

纯Fe和316L不锈钢在液态锂铅合金中的腐蚀行为

采用挂片法、失重法和金相表面分析,进行了高纯Fe和316L不锈钢2种结构材料在350~550 ℃液态LiPb合金中静态腐蚀行为的研究。研究结果表明,温度及结构材料组分元素在液态LiPb合金中的溶解和质量迁移是导致材料腐蚀的主要原因,合金、结构材料表面的氧化皮也是影响静态腐蚀行为的一种重要参数。     

Progress in compatibility experiments on lithium–lead with candidate structural materials for fusion in China

Liquid LiPb eutectic is one of the promising candidate tritium breeder materials for fusion reactors. This paper presents the progress in compatibility experiments with liquid LiPb achieved up to now in China for some candidate structural materials. The results showed that CLAM steel had good compatibility with flowing LiPb at 480 °C with the velocity of 0.08 m/s after 5000 h in DRAGON-I loop. On the other hand, after exposed in static LiPb at 700 °C for 500 h in a SiC crucible, the W and Mo specimens suffered much more weight loss compared with Nb specimen, and a thin reaction product layer was visible on the surface of all the three refractory metals. Preliminary analysis on SiC_f/SiC composite specimens indicated that there was no penetration of LiPb and no reaction products on the surface with CVD SiC coating, which showed SiCf/SiC composite were stable and compatible with static LiPb under 700 °C after 500 h exposure.     

Corrosion behaviour of steels in lead-bismuth at 823 K

The corrosion behaviour of the martensitic T91 steel and the austenitic AISI 316L steel was analysed. The steels were immersed in stagnant molten Pb-55.2wt%Bi alloy at 823 K for different exposure times (t = 550-2000 h). The corrosion tests were carried out both under Ar and under Ar-5%H₂ mixture. Under the oxidising conditions (P_O2 = 6 × 10⁻³ Pa), the formation of oxide layers was observed which prevent the penetration of the liquid alloy into the matrix, while under the Ar-5%H₂ mixture (P_O2 = 3.2 × 10⁻²³ Pa), two phenomena occurred: a ‘reactive penetration’ at the liquid alloy/steel interface and the competition between oxidation and penetration.     

Metallography studies and hardness measurements on ferritic/martensitic steels irradiated in STIP

In this work metallography investigations and microhardness measurements have been performed on 15 ferritic/martensitic (FM) steels and 6 weld metals irradiated in the SINQ Target Irradiation Program (STIP). The results demonstrate that all the steels have quite similar martensite lath structures. However, the sizes of the prior austenite grain (PAG) of these steels are quite different and vary from 10 to 86 μm. The microstructure in the fusion zones (FZ) of electron-beam welds (EBWs) of 5 steels (T91, EM10, MANET-II, F82H and Optifer-IX) is similar in respect to the martensite lath structure and PAG size. The FZ of the inert-gas-tungsten weld (TIGW) of the T91 steel shows a duplex structure of large ferrite gains and martensite laths. The microhardness measurements indicate that the normalized and tempered FM steels have rather close hardness values. The unusual high hardness values of the EBW and TIGW of the T91 steel were detected, which suggests that these materials are without proper tempering or post-welding heat treatment.     

Bending tests on T91 steel in Pb-Bi eutectic, Bi and Pb-Li eutectic

The influence of specific liquid metals on the behaviour of the ferritic/martensitic steel T91 are investigated to understand better the processes taking place at the metal surface. Of special interest is particularly if there is a penetration of selected elements out of the melt along grain boundaries. Metallurgical investigation, SEM and EDX analyses analysis were performed on bent T91 specimens exposed to static LBE, Bi and Pb-17Li at 300 °C for 1000 h. Steel T91 was used in the standard and specially annealed conditions. It is shown that the heat treatment of the steel has a strong influence on the corrosion resistance. Additionally the strain affected on the component is responsible for the occurrence of LME.     

聚变驱动次临界堆双冷嬗变包层结构设计与分析

给出聚变驱动次临界堆液态金属LiPb/He气双冷嬗变包层参考结构概念,采用了低活化铁素体/马氏体RAFM钢(如CLAM)作为结构材料、简单液态金属流道、两个独立氦气冷却系统以及燃料球/颗粒等设计方案。重点分析了嬗变包层第一壁、重金属区与裂变产物嬗变区的结构设计特点。     

中国实验快堆过热器出(入)口管焊接件在高温钠中的腐蚀

在氧含量≤25 μg/g、碳含量为26 μg/g的495℃热对流钠中,对俄罗斯进口的CEFR过热器出口管10X2M焊接件及俄罗斯的入口管12X1M-国产304H焊接件进行了2 800 h的相容性试验研究.试验后分析测试了焊接件试样的平均腐蚀速率、微观腐蚀形貌、表面组分元素含量,力学性能以及断口形貌.结果表明,在本试验条件下两种焊接件试样与高温钠具有好的相容性.     

中国实验快堆主容器母材及其颈部支撑焊接件在高温钠及钠蒸气中的腐蚀

在450℃钠和190℃钠蒸气中分别试验研究了中国实验快堆(CEFR)主容器316-316不锈钢焊接件及其颈部支撑316-5083钢焊接件与高温钠及钠蒸气的相容性特征.试验时间为3 000 h,钠中的氧含量及碳含量分别为＜25 μg/g和＜14 μg/g.试验后对腐蚀速率、微观腐蚀形貌、表面元素含量、力学性能进行了分析测试,结果表明,在本试验条件下,两种焊接件与高温钠及钠蒸气的相容性良好.     

Assessment of thermo-mechanical behavior in CLAM steel first wall structures

The temperature and strain distributions of the mockup with distinct structural material (SS316L or China Low Activation Martensitic steel (CLAM)) in two-dimensional model were calculated and analyzed, based on a high heat flux (HHF) test recently reported with heat flux of 3.2 MW/m². The calculated temperature and strain results in the first wall (FW), in which SS316L is as the structural material, showed good agreement with HHF test. By substituting CLAM steel for SS316L the contrast analysis indicates that the thermo-mechanical property for CLAM steel is better than that of SS316 at the same condition. Furthermore, the thermo-mechanical behavior of the FW was analyzed under the condition of normal ITER operation combined effect of plasma heat flux and neutron heating.