• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2020

Here, the stability of stainless steel 316 (SS-316) was investigated to identify its applicability in the oxide reduction process, as a component in related equipment, to produce a complicated gas mixture composed of O₂ and Cl₂ under an argon (Ar) atmosphere. The effects of the mixed gas composition were investigated at flow rates of 30 mL/min O₂, 20 mL/min O₂ + 10 mL/min Cl₂, 10 mL/min O₂ + 20 mL/min Cl₂, and 30 mL/min Cl₂, each at 600℃, during a constant argon flow rate of 170 mL/min. It was found that the corrosion of SS-316 by the chlorine gas was suppressed by the presence of oxygen, while the reaction proceeded linearly with the reaction time regardless of gas composition. Surface observation results revealed an uneven surface with circular pits in the samples that were fed mixed gases. Thermodynamic calculations proposed the combination of Fe and Ni chlorination reactions as an explanation for this pit formation phenomenon. An exponential increase in the corrosion rate was observed with an increase in the reaction temperature in a range of 300 ~ 600℃ under a flow of 30 mL/min Cl₂ + 170 mL/min Ar.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2020

The corrosion behavior of the Inconel X-750 alloy was investigated for its potential application under a Cl₂-O₂ mixed gas flow in an Ar atmosphere. The corrosion rate was found to be negligible at temperatures up to 400℃ under a flow rate of 30 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 170 mL·min^-1 Ar, whereas an exponential increase was observed in the corrosion rate at temperatures greater than 500℃. The suppression of the corrosion reaction due to the presence of O₂ was verified experimentally at flow rates of 30 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ (4.96 g·m^-2·h^-1), 20 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 10 mL·min^-1 O₂ (2.02 g·m^-2 ·h^-1), and 10 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 20 mL·min^-1 O₂ (1.34 g·m^-2·h^-1) under a constant Ar flow rate of 170 mL·min^-1 at 600℃ for 8 h. The surface morphology analysis results revealed that porous surfaces with tunnel-type holes were produced under the Cl₂-O₂ mixed-gas condition. Furthermore, the effects of the Cl₂ flow rate on the corrosion rate were investigated, indicating that its impact was negligible within the range of 5-30 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ at 600℃.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.383-393
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• 2020

The corrosion behavior of Hastelloy C-276 was investigated to identify its applicability for carbon-anode-based oxide reduction (OR), in which Cl₂ and O₂ are simultaneously evolved at the anode. Under a 30 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 170 mL·min^-1 Ar flow, the corrosion rate was less than 1 g·m^-2·h^-1 up to 500℃, whereas the rate increased exponentially from 500 to 700℃. The effects of the Cl₂-O₂ composition on the corrosion rate at flow rates of 30 mL·min^-1 Cl₂, 20 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 10 mL·min^-1 O₂, and 10 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 20 mL·min^-1 O₂ with a constant 170 mL·min^-1 Ar flow rate at 600℃ was analyzed. Based on the data from an 8 h reaction, the fastest corrosion rate was observed for the 20 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 10 mL·min^-1 O₂ case, followed by 30 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ and 10 mL·min^-1 Cl₂ + 20 mL·min^-1 O₂. The effects of the chlorine flow rate on the corrosion rate were negligible within the 5-30 mL·min^-1 range. A surface morphology analysis revealed the formation of vertical scratches in specimens that reacted under the Cl₂-O₂ mixed gas condition.