Corrosion behavior of Ni-based structural materials for electrolytic reduction in lithium molten salt

In this study, the corrosion behavior of new Ni-based structural materials was studied for electrolytic reduction after exposure to LiCl–Li2O molten salt at 650 °C for 24–216 h under an oxidizing atmosphere. The new alloys with Ni, Cr, Al, Si, and Nb as the major components were melted at 1700 °C under an inert atmosphere. The melt was poured into a preheated metallic mold to prepare an as-cast alloy. The corrosion products and fine structures of the corroded specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscope (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The corrosion products of as cast and heat treated low Si/high Ti alloys were Cr2O3, NiCr2O4, Ni, NiO, and (Al,Nb,Ti)O2; those of as cast and heat treated high Si/low Ti alloys were Cr2O3, NiCr2O4, Ni, and NiO. The corrosion layers of as cast and heat treated low Si/high Ti alloys were continuous and dense. However, those of as cast and heat treated high Si/low Ti alloys were discontinuous and cracked. Heat treated low Si/high Ti alloy showed the highest corrosion resistance among the examined alloys. The superior corrosion resistance of the heat treated low Si/high Ti alloy was attributed to the addition of an appropriate amount of Si, and the metallurgical evaluations were performed systematically.