Slow strain rate testing of Fe-10Cr-4Al ferritic steel in liquid lead and lead-bismuth eutectic

• The susceptibility of Fe-10Cr-4Al steel to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) in low oxygen liquid lead and lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) environments has been investigated using a newly developed slow strain rate testing (SSRT) technique that can be employed at elevated temperatures. This study showed that the Fe-10Cr-4Al steel suffered embrittlement when exposed to LBE over a wide temperature range. The embrittlement, here measured as a reduction in fracture strain, was observed at the melting temperature of LBE and reached a maximum at approximately 375 degrees C. At temperatures above 425 degrees C, the material's ductility regained its original levels. The exposures in liquid lead showed no indications of embrittlement, but a ductile behavior over the entire tem-perature range studied (340-480 degrees C).

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Metallurgi och metalliska material (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Metallurgy and Metallic Materials (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Liquid metal embrittlement (LME)

Lead

Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE)

Fe-10Cr-4Al

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)