Corrosion resistance of stainless chrome-nickel steels in sodium as a function of its oxygen content

Abstract

The article describes an experimental apparatus for studying the corrosion resistance of construction materials in circulating liquid sodium, as well as methods for the continuous removal of oxides from the sodium by means of porous metal filters and for the determination of its oxygen content. It describes the results of corrosion experiments and measurements of mechanical properties performed on six brands of stainless steel, specimens of which were placed in sodium containing 3·10−3% and (4–5)·10−2% oxygen at a temperature of 550°. The flow rate was 1.5 m/sec. The results of the corrosion experiments indicate that the corrosion rate of Type 18CrSNi stainless steels in sodium containing as much as (4–5)·10−2% oxygen does not exceed 21.3 mg/dm2 per month; these steets are not subject to intergranular corrosion, and their mechanical properties remain virtually machanged.