Fundamental data: Solubility of nickel and oxygen and diffusivity of iron and oxygen in molten LBE

Experiments for determining nickel solubility limit and iron diffusion coefficient are presented and their results are discussed. Nickel solubility limit is determined by two methods: ex situ by solid sampling followed by ICP-AES analysis and in situ by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and their results are compared. The iron diffusion coefficient is obtained using the technique of rotating specimen dissolution.Also a method to determine the oxygen solubility and diffusivity in LBE is developed and results at 460, 500 and 540 °C are presented. It is based on the following electrochemical cell: O2 (reference mixture), Pt //YSZ//O2 (LBE) which can work as an oxygen sensor or as a coulometric pump.