Compatibility of Ni and F82H with liquid Pb–Li under rotating flow

The present study reports the compatibility of a reduced-activation ferritic steel F82H and Ni with liquid Pb–Li under rotating flow conditions at 600 °C. Cross-sectional observation of Ni using field emission electron probe micro-analyzer (FE-EPMA) after exposure for 100 h revealed that severe grain boundary penetration of Pb into Ni occurred up to approximately a depth of 700 μm, causing liquid metal embrittlement (LME). In contrast, the results for F82H after exposure for 500 h showed the formation of pitting holes and a Cr-depleted layer at the surface with an approximate maximum depth of 10 μm. Oxide particles were also found in the Pb–Li region in the F82H specimen after exposure. The radio-frequency glow discharge spectrometers successfully detected Li and indicated Li oxide formation at the surface.