skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Effect of Mercury Velocity on Corrosion of Type 316L Stainless Steel in a Thermal Convection Loop

Abstract

Two 316L thermal convection loops (TCLs) containing several types of 316L specimens circulated mercury continuously for 2000 h at a maximum temperature of 300 C. Each TCL was fitted with a venturi-shaped reduced section near the top of the hot leg for the purpose of locally increasing the Hg velocity. Results suggest that an increase in velocity from about 1.2 m/min (bulk flow) to about 5 mmin (reduced section) had no significant impact on compatibility of 316L with Hg. In addition, various surface treatments such as gold-plating, chemical etching, polishing, and steam cleaning resulted in little or no influence on compatibility of 316L with Hg when compared to nominal mill-annealed/surface-ground material. A sensitizing heat treatment also had little/no effect on compatibility of 316L with Hg for the bulk specimen, although intergranular attack was observed around the specimen holes in each case. It was determined that carburization of the hole area had occurred as a result of the specimen fabrication process potentially rendering the specimens susceptible to corrosion by Hg at these locations. To avoid sensitization-related compatibility issues for SNS components, selection of low carbon grades of stainless steel and control of the fabrication process is recommended.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
777774
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-2001/18
TRN: AH200118%%142
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-96OR22464
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 23 Mar 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; CARBURIZATION; COMPATIBILITY; CONVECTION; CORROSION; FABRICATION; HEAT TREATMENTS; MERCURY; STAINLESS STEELS; SURFACE TREATMENTS; VELOCITY

Citation Formats

Pawel, SJ. Effect of Mercury Velocity on Corrosion of Type 316L Stainless Steel in a Thermal Convection Loop. United States: N. p., 2001. Web. doi:10.2172/777774.
Pawel, SJ. Effect of Mercury Velocity on Corrosion of Type 316L Stainless Steel in a Thermal Convection Loop. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/777774
Pawel, SJ. 2001. "Effect of Mercury Velocity on Corrosion of Type 316L Stainless Steel in a Thermal Convection Loop". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/777774. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/777774.
@article{osti_777774,
title = {Effect of Mercury Velocity on Corrosion of Type 316L Stainless Steel in a Thermal Convection Loop},
author = {Pawel, SJ},
abstractNote = {Two 316L thermal convection loops (TCLs) containing several types of 316L specimens circulated mercury continuously for 2000 h at a maximum temperature of 300 C. Each TCL was fitted with a venturi-shaped reduced section near the top of the hot leg for the purpose of locally increasing the Hg velocity. Results suggest that an increase in velocity from about 1.2 m/min (bulk flow) to about 5 mmin (reduced section) had no significant impact on compatibility of 316L with Hg. In addition, various surface treatments such as gold-plating, chemical etching, polishing, and steam cleaning resulted in little or no influence on compatibility of 316L with Hg when compared to nominal mill-annealed/surface-ground material. A sensitizing heat treatment also had little/no effect on compatibility of 316L with Hg for the bulk specimen, although intergranular attack was observed around the specimen holes in each case. It was determined that carburization of the hole area had occurred as a result of the specimen fabrication process potentially rendering the specimens susceptible to corrosion by Hg at these locations. To avoid sensitization-related compatibility issues for SNS components, selection of low carbon grades of stainless steel and control of the fabrication process is recommended.},
doi = {10.2172/777774},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/777774}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 23 00:00:00 EST 2001},
month = {Fri Mar 23 00:00:00 EST 2001}
}