Effect of Metallic Li on the Corrosion Behavior of Inconel 625 in Molten LiCl-Li2O-Li

The corrosion behavior of Inconel 625 in molten LiCl solutions maintained at 650 degrees C and containing various quantities of Li2O and metallic Li was studied for possible application in the electroreduction of used oxide-based nuclear fuel. This study focusses on the morphological and elemental changes on the surface of the samples with an emphasis on cross-sectional analyses conducted using focused ion beam microscopy. In the absence of metallic Li, a stable oxide film is formed that limits the corrosion of the base material to 0.07mm/year. However, in the presence of metallic Li, the formation of this film is impeded, resulting in dealloying of the base material and the formation of a highly porous microstructure composed primarily of Ni. (C) The Author(s) 2019. Published by ECS.