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Molten Salt Corrosion and Its Mitigation for Pyrochemical Reprocessing Applications

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A Treatise on Corrosion Science, Engineering and Technology

Part of the book series: Indian Institute of Metals Series ((IIMS))

Abstract

Pyrochemical reprocessing has opted for the reprocessing of spent metallic fuels from future sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors in India. Pyrochemical reprocessing involves several unit operations with various atmospheres at different temperatures ranging from 500 to 1500 °C. The primary separation process of the pyrochemical reprocessing is the electrorefining step. The electrorefining process uses molten LiCl–KCl eutectic salt as the electrolyte at 500 °C under an inert atmosphere for the separation of the fuel elements from spent fuel. Molten salts at high temperature are more corrosive to the structural materials. Hence, structural materials should possess high corrosion resistance in molten salt. Recent corrosion evaluation of various structural materials like stainless steels, Cr–Mo steels, Ni-based alloys, and graphite carried out was investigated in molten salt system. The possible and various types of corrosion mitigation strategies have adopted and test protocols for the molten salt corrosion protection are discussed. Thermal spray ceramic coatings as one of the best chemical barriers for the protection of materials from molten salts are highlighted. The mechanism of molten salt corrosion, the corrosion resistance behaviour of various candidate structural materials in LiCl–KCl molten salt, its mitigation by providing ceramic coatings for pyrochemical reprocessing applications are briefly discussed. All the structural materials tested in LiCl–KCl are found to be corrosive and the ceramic coated materials showed excellent corrosion resistance in the molten salt atmosphere.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aqueous Corrosion and Protection Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Ch. Jagadeeswara Rao, S. Ningshen & U. Kamachi Mudali

  2. Corrosion Science and Technology Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Ch. Jagadeeswara Rao & S. Ningshen

  3. Heavy Water Board, Mumbai, 400094, India

    U. Kamachi Mudali

Authors
  1. Ch. Jagadeeswara Rao
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  2. S. Ningshen
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  3. U. Kamachi Mudali
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ch. Jagadeeswara Rao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vice Chancellor, VIT Bhopal University, Bhopal, India

    U. Kamachi Mudali

  2. Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, India

    Toleti Subba Rao

  3. Aqueous Corrosion and Protection Section Metallurgy and Materials Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India

    S. Ningshen

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

    Radhakrishna G. Pillai

  5. Surface Modification and Characterization Section, Corrosion Science and Technology Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India

    Rani P. George

  6. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Madras, Chennai, India

    T. M. Sridhar

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Jagadeeswara Rao, C., Ningshen, S., Kamachi Mudali, U. (2022). Molten Salt Corrosion and Its Mitigation for Pyrochemical Reprocessing Applications. In: Kamachi Mudali, U., Subba Rao, T., Ningshen, S., G. Pillai, R., P. George, R., Sridhar, T.M. (eds) A Treatise on Corrosion Science, Engineering and Technology. Indian Institute of Metals Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9302-1_12

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