Magnetic field effect on deposition of corrosion products in liquid Pb–17Li

Abstract This paper reports deposition data of tests carried out on Pb–17Li filled steel tubes (austenitic and martensitic) under a thermal gradient (500–250°C) and with and without a magnetic field (0.25 T). For the austenitic steel, deposits composed of nickel, manganese and tin were found at temperatures below 370°C. For higher temperatures, crystals mainly composed of iron and chromium were identified. No significant difference was observed for the test performed in a magnetic field. For the martensitic steel, various types of crystals were detected, composed of Fe and Cr or a mixture of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn and Sn. They were found in various quantities and distributed all over the wall of the tube. A marked difference was observed in the presence of a magnetic field with a near absence of crystals in the region above the magnet. The majority of the deposits were observed in the region of the magnetic field and were composed of ferromagnetic particles of Fe and Cr (92Fe–8Cr), clearly showing a trapping effect of Fe and Cr from Pb–17Li.