| Abstract Scope |
Impurities in molten salts, particularly oxygen- and moisture-containing species, significantly affect the corrosion behavior of structural metal alloys, leading to inconsistencies in corrosion testing. Conventional molten salt purification methods are often complex and present safety challenges. In this work, a high-vacuum corrosion testing system was developed to minimize oxygen- and moisture-related impurities during testing. FLiNaK salt was loaded into a pyrolytic boron nitride crucible and heated to 800 °C using a Knudsen cell. A residual gas analyzer monitored the degassing process to verify the removal of volatile impurities. SS316 stainless-steel coupons were immersed in the molten FLiNaK for up to 500 h, then withdrawn and unloaded through a load-lock system. Corrosion behavior was evaluated by characterizing the chemical composition and microstructure of the surface and near-surface regions. The proposed methodology provides a well-controlled environment for more reliable molten FLiNaK corrosion studies. |