Corrosion susceptibility of EUROFER97 in lithium ceramics breeders

EUROFER97 specimens were exposed in vacuum to lithium silicate pebbles at 550 °C for up to 2880 h, to evaluate its corrosion susceptibility in a simulated breeder blanket environment. The specimens and pebble bed were then analyzed and characterized by SEM-EDX, XRD, and HR-TEM. The results revealed the formation of a double chromium/iron oxide corrosion layer. HR-TEM also showed that the inner layer was amorphous, while the outer was crystalline. The amorphous layer was brittle, broke easily, and became detached from the steel.