Corrosion resistance of ceramics SiC and Si3N4 in flowing lead-bismuth eutectic

A corrosion test was conducted to investigate the corrosion characteristics of SiC and Si3N4 in a flowing lead-bismuth eutectic (Pb–Bi) with a fluid temperature of 550 °C, a velocity of 1 m/s, and an oxygen concentration of 1 × 10−6 wt% for an exposure time of 2000 h. The weight losses of the SiC and Si3N4 specimens were lower than those of corrosion-resistant steels tested under the same condition. The specimens showed excellent resistance against an element dissolution and an oxidation in the Pb–Bi flow. The surface was slightly damaged due to some stresses of the Pb–Bi flow and/or those generated by adhered Pb–Bi in the test procedure.

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► A corrosion test showed excellent corrosion resistance of ceramics in a flowing lead-bismuth eutectic.
► The test conditions were 550 °C, 1 m/s, 1 × 10−6 wt%, and 2000 h.
► The weight losses of the specimens were smaller than those of corrosion-resistant steels.