Compatibility of Liquid and Vapor Alkali Metals with Construction Materials
Compatibility of Liquid and Vapor Alkali Metals with Construction Materials

Author: John H. Stang

Publisher:

Published: 1966

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13:

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This report presents the highlights of what has been ascertained about the interactions of liquid and vapor sodium, NaK potassium, lithium, and cesium with solid materials of potential use in practical liquid-metal systems. Data for inclusion were selected by the authors on the basis of their practical utility to designers and research workers. There has been an accelerating interest in alkali metals as (1) coolants for fast-breeder nuclear reactors, (2) coolants in space power plants, (3) Rankine-cycle working fluids in high- temperature nuclear reactors, (4) propellants in ion-propulsion engines, (5) seeding materials in magnetohydrodynamic generators, (6) space-charge dissipating media in thermionic generators, and (7) high-temperature hydraulic fluids. Prominent among the liquid-metals research efforts are studies directed toward finding the best containment material for a given alkali under a given set of operating conditions.

The Effect of Molten Alkali Metals on Containment Metals and Alloys at High Temperatures
The Effect of Molten Alkali Metals on Containment Metals and Alloys at High Temperatures

Author: M. F. Amateau

Publisher:

Published: 1962

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13:

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Corrosion of containment materials is the most serious problem in liquid-metal systems. Most high-temperature engineering metals such as refractory metals, nickel-base and cobalt-base superalloys, and the austenitic and ferritic stainless steels are sufficiently resistant to liquid sodium and NaK to be useful up to about 1600 F. The most important factor in the corrosion of these materials under given conditions of temperature and flow rate is the oxygen content of the sodium. No material is truly corrosion resistant to lithium, although the refractory metals tantalum, columbium, and molybdenum do have some potential for high-temperature service in engineering applications. Zirconium and pure iron may also find some limited use in lithium, especially in lower temperature, twocomponent, static systems. The cobalt- and nickel-base alloys are unsuitable for high-temperature service in liquid lithium. The nitrogen content of the lithium is a particularly important factor. Potassium, rubidium, and cesium are somewhat less corrosive than the other alkali metals. The refractory metals and alloys are little affected by these liquid metals. The sliding and bearing properties of metals are generally affected adversely by the presence of pure molten metals. (Author).