Role of oxidation on LME of T91 steel studied by small punch test

A new technique for LME studies has been designed that makes use of the SPT coupled with a XPS/Auger spectroscopy analysis. The interface between the material (T91 steel) and the liquid metal (PbBi) can be varied to investigate the interplay between the oxide nature or the thickness and crack initiation induced by a liquid metal. It is shown in this work that LME can occur in some conditions on pre-oxidized surfaces indicating that there are other interfacial conditions than the oxide free intimate contact that could be detrimental to materials in contact with a liquid metal.