MAX phases are promising candidate structural materials for lead-cooled fast reactors (LFRs) and accelerator-driven sub-critical systems (ADSs) due to their excellent corrosion resistance in liquid LBE. In this work, one of the typical MAX phases, Ti₃SiC₂, was exposed to the flowing LBE with a saturated oxygen concentration at 500 °C for up to 3000 h. The corrosion behaviors, including the evolution of the corrosion layer, mechanical properties and wettability, were evaluated via X-ray diffraction, a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray, a microhardness test and contact angle measurement. The results reveal that a corrosion structure with a duplex layer was formed on the sample surfaces. The outer layer was a diffusion layer, which always remained thin (<3 μm) during the whole test due to the erosion effect caused by the flowing LBE. The inner layer was the stable protective oxide layer, and its thickness increased with exposure time. The growth of the corrosion structure improved the microhardness and reduced the wettability with regard to LBE, which was beneficial to inhibiting further surface corrosion of Ti₃SiC₂.

In this work, the wetting behaviors of lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) on corroded 316L, T91, and CLAM surfaces were studied. The wettability of LBE on virgin and corroded surfaces were tested at 450 °C by using the sessile-drop (SD) method after immersing the samples in LBE with saturated oxygen concentration for 400, 800, and 1200 h at 450 °C. Additionally, the morphology, as well as element distribution of the corrosion structure, were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the virgin samples of three materials are non-wetting to LBE, and the formation of corrosion structures further reduces the wettability. Besides, the thickness of the corrosion layer formed on the 316L surface grew more slowly than the other two steel, which results in better corrosion resistance of austenitic steel 316L than that of ferritic/martensitic steels T91 and CLAM at 450 °C. Meanwhile, the morphology and distribution of corrosion products are important factors affecting the wettability of the steel surface. The formation of corrosion products with high roughness as well as disorder results in a significant reduction in surface wettability.

In this paper, the effects of Bi₂O₃ doping on the mechanical properties of PbO ceramic pellets were studied. Different ratios of Bi₂O₃/PbO (i.e., xBi₂O₃-(1−x) PbO, where x is 0, 1, 3, 5, or 7 wt.%) were fabricated and sintered at 570, 620, and 670 °C. Mechanical properties including density, hardness, flexural strength, and sintering of PbO were studied for each of the aforementioned compositions. Phase composition, microstructure, and the worn surfaces of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis revealed that a solid solution formed in the composite ceramic. The best suited conditions of temperature and doping of Bi₂O₃ for optimal sintering were found to be 620 °C and 3 wt.%, respectively. The hardness of the 3 wt.% Bi₂O₃-97 wt.% PbO ceramic was found to be 717 MPa, which is about four times higher than the hardness of pure PbO. In addition, the strength of the composites was found to be 43 MPa, which is two times higher than that of pure PbO. The integrity of the composites was verified using the lead–bismuth eutectic alloy flushing experiment. The results of this research paper are important for future studies of oxygen control in the lead–bismuth eutectic alloy of lead-cooled fast reactors.