Interactions between molten Flibe and metallic Be

Abstract

To understand the interactions between molten Flibe and Be, a metallic Be rod was immersed in molten Flibe at 803 K under He atmosphere for 210 h. The Be rod was significantly eroded during immersion in molten Flibe, and the Flibe changed from a clear crystal to a brownish-gray marble-like appearance. The concentration of Be 0 in Flibe was evaluated by dissolving salt samples in acid solutions. This dissolution test is based on the reaction of Be 0 with proton ions in the acid solutions to generate H 2. Hydrogen gas was generated from Flibe contacted with Be under flowing He. The amounts of gas generated corresponded to mole fractions of [Be 0]/[Flibe] ranging from 9.9 × 10 −4 to 7.6 × 10 −3. On the other hand, no H 2 was generated from Flibe that was not exposed to Be or which was exposed to Be and then given significant H 2–HF–He bubbling. These observations showed that Be does, indeed, dissolve in Flibe as Be 0. The fact that no Be 0 was detected after bubbling H 2–HF–He into the salt indicates that Be 0 is an effective redox agent for reacting HF.