Fundamental Study on Reaction of Lead-Bismuth Eutectic and Sodium; Identification of Reaction Products and Examination of Reaction Behavior

Saito, Junichi  ; Hirakawa, Yasushi 

The simplified secondary sodium cooling system utilized lead-bismuth eutectic as an intermediate coolant has been selected one of candidate systems for the "Feasibility Studies on Commercializes Fast Reactor System". In this study, fundamental reaction experiments have been performed to understand a reaction behavior between sodium and lead-bismuth. In order to identify the reaction products and to elucidate a reaction process, sampling of the reaction products and X-ray diffraction analysis of them are carried out..Following results are obtained.(1).The principal reaction products which formed in sodium and lead-bismuth ternary system are BiNa3 and Pb4Na15 intermetallic compounds. These two reaction products are identified irrespective of either primary sample content or sampling temperature.(2).Pb3Na intermatallic compound is identified in the reaction products for the first time.(3).The principal reaction product which formed in sodium and bismuth binary system is BiNa3 intermetallic compound.(4).The reaction products which formed in sodium and lead binary system consist of various intermetallic compounds of sodium and lead system. Single phase of an intermatallic compound can not be obtained in this system.Based on these X-ray diffraction analyses, reaction process models of formation and dissolution are proposed.