Corrosion Resistance of Amorphous Fe_49.7Cr_17.7Mn_1.9Mo_7.4W_1.6B_15.2C_3.8Si_2.4 Coating: A New Criticality Control Material

Journal Article · Mon Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Nuclear Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/nt08-a3921· OSTI ID:1018788

Farmer, J. C. ^[1]; Choi, J. -S. ^[1]; Saw, C. -K. ^[1]; Rebak, R. H. ^[1]; Day, S. D. ^[1]; Lian, T. ^[1]; Hailey, P. D. ^[1]; Payer, J. H. ^[2]; Branagan, D. J. ^[3]; Aprigliano, L. F. ^[4]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
3. The NanoSteel Company, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
4. Strategic Analysis, Arlington, VA (United States)

Here, an iron-based amorphous metal with good corrosion resistance and a high absorption cross section for thermal neutrons has been developed and is reported here. This amorphous alloy has the approximate formula Fe_49.7Cr_17.7Mn_1.9Mo_7.4W_1.6B_15.2C_3.8Si_2.4 and is known as SAM2X5. Chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten were added to provide corrosion resistance, while boron was added to promote glass formation and the absorption of thermal neutrons. Since this amorphous metal has a higher boron content than conventional borated stainless steels, it provides the nuclear engineer with design advantages for criticality control structures with enhanced safety. While melt-spun ribbons with limited practical applications were initially produced, large quantities (several tons) of gas-atomized powder have now been produced on an industrial scale, and applied as thermal-spray coatings on prototypical half-scale spent-nuclear-fuel containers and neutron-absorbing baskets. These prototypes and other SAM2X5 samples have undergone a variety of corrosion testing, including both salt-fog and long-term immersion testing. Modes and rates of corrosion have been determined in various relevant environments and are reported here. While these coatings have less corrosion resistance than melt-spun ribbons and optimized coatings produced in the laboratory, substantial corrosion resistance has been achieved.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition
• Grant/Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 1018788
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JRNL--229505
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 161; ISSN 0029-5450
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION
ALLOYS
BORON
CHROMIUM
COATINGS
CONTAINERS
CORROSION
CORROSION RESISTANCE
CRITICALITY
DESIGN
ENGINEERS
GLASS
MOLYBDENUM
NUCLEAR FUELS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
SAFETY
STAINLESS STEELS
TESTING
THERMAL NEUTRONS
TUNGSTEN