Corrosion of austenitic steel in leakage lithium

Furukawa, Tomohiro  ; Hirakawa, Yasushi ; Kato, Shoichi 

Lithium, which is used as the neutron source of the IFMIF, reacts with oxygen, nitrogen and moisture in atmosphere in case of the leakage accident. In this study, fundamental corrosion test was performed in order to obtain the corrosion behavior of austenitic stainless steel in the estimated lithium compounds. In the experiment, the lithium compounds were filled with the steel into the Tammann pipe made from AlO, and heated up to 850C. After the test, the specimen was cleaned by alcohol, and then the weight loss measurement and metallurgical examination were performed. Intense corrosion was observed at the environmental conditions containing lithium peroxide. No corrosion was observed in LiO environment. According to the consideration based on thermodynamics, LiO cannot oxidize iron and lithium is reducing agent. Slight corrosion was observed in LiOH and LiN environments.