CORROSION BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF WELDED STAINLESS STEEL 316 WITH DIFFERENT SURFACE TREATMENTS IN HIGH TEMPERATURE LEAD ENVIRONMENTS FOR OPERATIONAL LEAD-COOLED FAST REACTORS (LFR)

• Main Author: Sairo Amri, Yassir
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/87437
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

This research aims to analyze the corrosion behavior of welded 316 stainless steels with variations in surface treatments in a high-temperature liquid lead (Pb) environment, as encountered in the operational conditions of a Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR). Material testing was conducted for 100 hours at 550°C to simulate the LFR environment under oxygen-saturated conditions. This study highlights the differences in the effects of surface treatment, specifically polishing, on corrosion resistance, particularly in the weld zone and base metal. The test results revealed the formation of heterogeneous oxide layers on the material surface, accompanied by localized dissolution phenomena in certain areas. These oxide layers were generally thicker on untreated materials but exhibited uneven distribution. The analysis indicated that the oxide layer could decelerate the corrosion rate. Furthermore, it was found that surface treatment removed the initial oxide layer, which under oxygen-deficient conditions hindered the growth of more uniform oxide layers and increased the dissolution rate. This study provides valuable insights into the influence of surface treatments on the corrosion resistance of 316 stainless steel in high-temperature lead environments. These findings are relevant for developing corrosion mitigation strategies and material selection in LFR design.