Corrosion and low-cycle fatigue properties of AISI 316L in flowing Pb17Li

Abstract Corrosion and low-cycle fatigue (LCF) tests were performed on AISI 316L steel specimens in a flowing lithium lead environment. The LCF and corrosion tests were conducted simultaneously in the “LIFUS 2” forced convection loop, at a temperature of 723 K and a flow velocity of approximately 0.01 m/s. The LCF tests, which had a strain amplitude ranging from 0.008 to 0.016, were compared with reference tests performed in an inert argon atmosphere. The results show that liquid Pb17Li has no detrimental effect on the LCF behaviour of 316L at the test temperature of 723 K. The corrosion tests extended from 650 to 1600 h with intermediate steps. Metallographic and SEM-EDAX analyses indicated the presence of an irregular porous ferritic later. The results are discussed in terms of ferrite growth rate and the effect of corrosion phenomena on LCF behaviour.