Cavitation-erosion resistance of 316LN stainless steel in mercury containing metallic solutes

Room temperature cavitation tests of vacuum annealed type 316LN stainless steel were performed in pure mercury and in mercury with various amounts of metallic solute to evaluate potential mitigation of erosion/wastage. Tests were performed using an ultrasonic vibratory horn with specimens attached at the tip. All of the solutes examined, which included 5 wt% In, 10 wt% In, 4.4 wt% Cd, 2 wt% Ga, and a mixture that included 1 wt% each of Pb, Sn, and Zn, were found to increase cavitation-erosion as measured by increased weight loss and/or surface profile development compared to exposures for the same conditions in pure mercury. Qualitatively, each solute appeared to increase the tenacity of the post-test wetting of the Hg solutions and render the Hg mixture susceptible to manipulation of droplet shape.