Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterisation of Ceramic-Coated 316LN Stainless Steel Exposed to High-Temperature Thermite Melt and Molten Sodium

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Currently, stainless steel grade 316LN is the material of construction widely used for core catcher of sodium-cooled fast reactors. Design philosophy for core catcher demands its capability to withstand corium loading from whole core melt accidents. Towards this, two ceramic coatings were investigated for its application as a layer of sacrificial material on the top of core catcher to enhance its capability. Plasma-sprayed thermal barrier layer of alumina and partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ) with an intermediate bond coat of NiCrAlY are selected as candidate material and deposited over 316LN SS substrates and were tested for their suitability as thermal barrier layer for core catcher. Coated specimens were exposed to high-temperature thermite melt to simulate impingement of molten corium. Sodium compatibility of alumina and PSZ coatings were also investigated by exposing samples to molten sodium at 400 °C for 500 h. The surface morphology of high-temperature thermite melt-exposed samples and sodium-exposed samples was examined using scanning electron microscope. Phase identification of the exposed samples was carried out by x-ray diffraction technique. Observation from sodium exposure tests indicated that alumina coating offers better protection compared to PSZ coating. However, PSZ coating provided better protection against high-temperature melt exposure, as confirmed during thermite melt exposure test.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. K. Plevacova, C. Journeau, P. Piluso, and J. Poirier, Eutectic Crystallization in the UO2–Al2O3–HfO2 Ceramic Phase Diagram, Ceram. Int., 2014, 40, p 2565–2573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Natta, Safety Issues For LMFBRs: Important Features Drawn from the Assessments of Superphénix, in Workshop Proceedings ‘Advanced Nuclear Reactor Safety Issues and Research Needs’, Paris, France, 18–20 Feb 2002, p 103–117

  3. A. Jasmin Sudha, K. Velusamy, and P. Chellapandi, A Multi Layer Core Catcher Concept for Future Sodium Cooled Fast Reactors, Ann. Nucl. Energy, 2014, 65, p 253–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. J.K. Fink, J.J. Heiberger, R. Kumar, R.A. Blomquist, L. Leibowitz, E.S. Sowa, J.R. Pavlik, and L. Baker Jr., Interactions of Certain Refractory Materials with Sodium, Report No: ANL-75-74, May 1976

  5. J.K. Fink, J.J. Heiberger, R. Kumar, and R.A. Blomquist, Interactions of Refractories and Reactor Materials with Sodium, Nucl. Technol., 1977, 35, p 656–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. S.A. Meacham, The Compatibility of Refractory Materials with Boiling Sodium, Report No: CONF-760508, 1976

  7. J. Jung, A. Reck, and R. Ziegler, The Compatibility of Alumina Ceramics with Liquid Sodium, J. Nucl. Mater., 1983, 119, p 339–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Kano, E. Yoshida, Y. Hirakawa, Y. Tachi, H. Haneda, and T. Mitsuhashi, Sodium Compatibility of Ceramics; Liquid Metal Systems, H.U. Borgstedt and G. Frees, Ed., Plenum Press, New York, 1995, p 85–94

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Alex, V. Balagi, K.R. Prasad, K.P. Sreekumar, and P.V. Ananthapadmanabhan, Plasma Sprayed Alumina Coatings for Radiation Detector Development, PRAMANA J. Phys., 2000, 55(56), p 927–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. A. Ravi Shankar, K. Thyagarajan, C.K. Upadhyay, C. Mallika, and U. Kamachi Mudali, Plasma Sprayed Alumina Coating on Inconel 600 for Neutron Detector Application, in Proceedings 6th Asian Thermal Spray Conference(ATSC 2014), 24–26 Nov 2014, Hyderabad, p 202–203

  11. H.Y. Kim, J.H. Kim, K.S. Ha, J.H. Song, and J.H. Park, A Proposed Core Catcher System and Thermite Experimental Results, J. Energy Power Eng., 2011, 5, p 1005–1014

    Google Scholar 

  12. K.-H. Kanga, R.-J. Park, S.-B. Kim, K.Y. Suh, F.B. Cheung, and J.L. Rempe, Simulant Melt Experiments on Performance of the In-Vessel Core Catcher, Nucl. Eng. Des., 2007, 237, p 1803–1813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Powder Diffraction File-2 (PDF-2) JCPDS-ICDD, PCPDFWIN Version 2.02, May 1999.

  14. A. Ravi Shankar, B.J. Babu, R. Sole, U.K. Mudali, and H.S. Khatak, Laser Remelting of Plasma Sprayed Zirconia Based Ceramic Coating for Pyrochemical Reprocessing Applications, Surf. Eng., 2007, 23, p 147–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. L. Duraes, B.F.O. Costa, R. Santos, A. Correia, J. Campos, and A. Portugal, Fe2O3/Aluminum Thermite Reaction Intermediate and Final Products Characterization, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2007, 465, p 199–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. W.H. Cook, Corrosion Resistance of Various Ceramics and Cermets to Liquid Metals, Report No: ORNL-2391, May 1960

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Rajesh Ganenshan of Chemistry Group (IGCAR) and Dr. D. Ponraju of Fast Reactor Technology Group (IGCAR) for providing high purity liquid sodium and post-exposure cleaning of specimens. Special mentions to Mrs. B. Malarvizhi of Fast Reactor Technology Group (IGCAR) for providing instrumentation-related support to conduct uninterrupted experiment. We also thank Mr. R Suresh Kumar of Structural Mechanics Laboratory, Reactor Design Group (IGCAR), for providing round the clock man power for monitoring of experiment for whole duration.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corrosion Science and Technology Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    A. Ravi Shankar, E. Vetrivendan, C. Mallika & U. Kamachi Mudali

  2. Fast Reactor Technology Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Prabhat Kumar Shukla, Sanjay Kumar Das, E. Hemanth Rao, S. S. Murthy, G. Lydia, B. K. Nashine & P. Selvaraj

Authors
  1. A. Ravi Shankar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Vetrivendan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Prabhat Kumar Shukla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sanjay Kumar Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. Hemanth Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. S. Murthy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. G. Lydia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. B. K. Nashine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. C. Mallika
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. P. Selvaraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. U. Kamachi Mudali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. Kamachi Mudali.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ravi Shankar, A., Vetrivendan, E., Shukla, P.K. et al. Characterisation of Ceramic-Coated 316LN Stainless Steel Exposed to High-Temperature Thermite Melt and Molten Sodium. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 26, 5272–5283 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2933-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2933-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation