Liquid metal embrittlement of the T91 steel in lead bismuth eutectic: The role of loading rate and of the oxygen content in the liquid metal

The T91 steel exhibited in general a high degree of ductility. However, even with oxygen saturated LBE, it has been possible to observe LME at low strain rate. Furthermore, low oxygen content in LBE and an increase in temperature promoted the LME. It turns out that the strain rate appeared as the critical parameter for the occurrence of LME of the T91 steel in LBE.