The potentiodynamic polarization method using the K/K+ dynamic reference electrode was used to understand the corrosion behavior of Ni, Fe, Cr, the Ni-20Cr binary alloy, and 316L stainless steel in molten 46.5LiF 11.5NaF-42KF (FLiNaK, composition in mol %) salt at 700˚C. Exposure of the materials without an applied potential revealed that Ni and Fe were stable in FLiNaK, but Cr was dissolved rapidly. The apparent redox potentials of each material with respect to the K/K+ redox couple are compared to gain insight into how the applied potential relates to the dominant corrosion mechanism for each alloy. The polarized pure metals experienced uniform surface recession while corrosion in the alloys resulted in preferential elemental dissolution depending on the applied potential with respect to the K/K+ reference reaction.
The corrosion behavior of the FCC Cr18Mn27Fe27.5Ni27.5 high entropy alloy (HEA) after exposure to molten FLiBe salt at 700 °C for 1000 hours, has been investigated. Results show that the HEA lost a higher mass compared to the reference 316 H stainless steel due to the dissolution of Mn into the molten salt. The loss of Mn from the alloy appeared to discourage the dissolution of Cr in the molten fluoride salts which is widely recognized as the mechanism of corrosion degradation. Thermal exposure at 700 °C for 1000 hours also led to the precipitation of an additional BCC phase Cr67Fe13Mn18.5Ni1.5, which was confirmed by CALPHAD predictions.
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