| Abstract Scope |
The development of corrosion-resistant structural materials for molten salt reactors (MSRs) remains a critical and unresolved challenge, particularly under conditions involving coupled irradiation and corrosion. Although molten salt corrosion has been extensively studied in the absence of irradiation, the effects of radiation-induced defects and microstructural evolution on corrosion kinetics and degradation mechanisms remain poorly understood. This presentation reviews the key scientific challenges associated with irradiation-enhanced corrosion in molten salts, with particular emphasis on the lack of integrated experimental and modeling frameworks capable of capturing the coupled interactions among defect production, defect transport, and chemical dissolution. The limitations of conventional post-irradiation corrosion testing are discussed in comparison with simultaneous irradiation–corrosion approaches, highlighting the need for testing methodologies that more realistically represent reactor environments. |