| Abstract Scope |
Nuclear energy serves as a reliable replacement for fossil fuel sources. Safety concerns are addressed in next-generation reactors by investigating structural materials with superior performance. Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) offer significant improvements over conventional light water reactors, including passive safety measures, higher operating temperatures, and greater specific power. However, a major obstacle is that molten halide salts heavily corrode containment materials like stainless steels. In this work, candidate nickel superalloys and high-carbon stainless steels will be rigorously tested for long-term corrosion resistance. Tubes of Haynes 244, Inconel, and 316H stainless steel will be filled with a eutectoid NaCl-MgCl2 mixture, vacuum-sealed, and furnace-tested at MSR temperatures for various durations. Following heat treatment, the resulting corrosion interfaces and products will be thoroughly analyzed using SEM/EDS. Crucially, the underlying diffusion kinetics will be determined; specifically, diffusion coefficients, activation energies, and parabolic growth constants will be quantified to comprehensively characterize the material degradation mechanisms. |