Investigation and characterisation of material degradation mechanisms across extremely hot corrosion interfaces in molten salt.

This project aims to investigate the corrosion degradation mechanisms of conventional corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) and Cr-alloyed steel materials used with in molten salts (Salt melts. CRAs used in these applications are exposed to salts at melting points (~200-250 degrees C) and below boiling points (~600-1000 degrees C) temperatures. The objective of this project is to develop an understanding of corrosion mechanisms at salt-metal interface and how these mechanisms are interlinked in their evolution and correlated to changes in alloy properties and integrity of passive layers in these environments over their design life.

Molten salts is currently being used as heat transfer and energy storage medium in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants and as coolants in Generation IV Molten Salts Nuclear Reactors (MSR). In these applications most metals are exposed to highly ionic salt melts at extremely high temperatures. Improve understanding and characterisation of the corrosion degradation mechanism in CSP and MSR systems will help towards mitigating corrosion in these systems through development of new generation of materials, coatings and chemical solutions.