Analysis of CREVONA sodium loop material

Stainless steel specimens equivalent to AISI type 304 taken from the CREVONA sodium loop (Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany), which was operated for more than 80 000 h, were analysed for microstructures and changes in chemical composition of depleted layers using SEM/EDAX. SEM micrographs were obtained in the cross-section of the specimens to reveal the thickness of the corroded layer. EDX analysis confirms depletion of Ni and Cr in the corroded layer. The leaching rates of chromium and nickel are obtained from the depleted layer width. These results are compared with the degraded layer and corrosion resistant node formation in sodium-exposed AISI type 316 SS specimens. The corroded layer widths of the specimens taken from the CREVONA loop determined using known models for life prediction like those proposed by Thorley and Tyzack are found to be much less than the actual layer widths observed experimentally after sodium exposure. The materials were exposed to flowing sodium for about 10 years.