Study on Pb-Bi Corrosion of Structural and Fuel Cladding Materials for Nuclear Applications (2); Part II. Exposure of Weld P122 in Oxygen Containing Flowing LBE at 550C for 5,000h

Schroer, C.*; Voss, Z.*; Wedemeyer, O.*; Novotny, J.*; Konys, J.*; Heinzel, A.*; Weisenburger, A.*; Mller, G.*; Furukawa, Tomohiro  ; Aoto, Kazumi 

This report summarises the results of exposure experiments on the behaviour of 12Cr-2W steel P122 joined by multi-run TIG welding in oxygen-containing flowing lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) at 550C for nominally 800, 2000 and 5000 h. The flow velocity of the LBE and the mean oxygen content were 2 m/s and 510-7 mass-% (aPbO = 10-3), respectively. The influence of surface-alloying with aluminium (GESA-treatment) was also investigated in an exposure experiment for nominally 5000 h. The behaviour of the welded joint is generally comparable to that of P122 (after the standard heat-treatment), both qualitatively and quantitatively. Only few exceptions were observed which probably result from local peculiarities of the specific sample material. After surface alloying with aluminium, no significant oxidation and no liquid metal corrosion occurred in the centre of the specimens (including the weld seam), where the desired high quality of the aluminised layer was achieved.