Development of intermetallic coatings for fusion power applications
In the design of liquid-metal cooling systems, corrosion resistance of structural materials and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) force and its subsequent influence on thermal hydraulics and corrosion are major concerns. The objective of this study is to develop stable corrosion-resistant electrical insulator coatings at the liquid-metal/structural-material interface, with emphasis on electrically insulating coatings that prevent adverse MHD-generated currents from passing through the structural walls. Vanadium and V-base alloys are potential materials for structural applications in a fusion reactor. Insulator coatings inside the tubing are required when the system is cooled by liquid metals. Various intermetallic films were produced on V, V-t, and V-20 Ti, V-5Cr-t and V-15Cr-t, and Ti, and Types 304 and 316 stainless steel. The intermetallic layers were developed by exposure of the materials to liquid lithium of 3--5 at.% and containing dissolved metallic solutes at temperatures of 416--880{degrees}C. Subsequently, electrical insulator coatings were produced by reaction of the reactive layers with dissolved nitrogen in liquid lithium or by air oxidation under controlled conditions at 600--1000{degrees}C. These reactions converted the intermetallic layers to electrically insulating oxide/nitride or oxy-nitride layers. This coating method could be applied to a commercial product. The liquid metal can be used over and over because only the solutes are consumed within the liquid metal. The technique can be applied to various shapes because the coating is formed by liquid-phase reaction. This paper will discuss initial results on the nature of the coatings and their in-situ electrical resistivity characteristics in liquid lithium at high temperatures.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10154740
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/ET/CP-81527; CONF-940664-1; ON: DE94012647; TRN: 94:012072
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ISFNT-3: international symposium on fusion nuclear technology,Los Angeles, CA (United States),27 Jun - 1 Jul 1994; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
DESIGN
COATINGS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
VANADIUM ALLOYS
VANADIUM BASE ALLOYS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
CERAMICS
LIQUID METALS
HYDRAULICS
HEAT TRANSFER
700480
COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT
MATERIALS STUDIES