Nuclear Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Summer 7-28-2026
Abstract
As fusion power moves closer to feasibility, identifying structural materials compatible with breeding blanket environments remains a critical challenge. Lead-lithium eutectic (LLE) is a leading candidate breeder and coolant material due to its low melting point and combined tritium breeding and neutron multiplication capability. However, the corrosive nature of LLE toward structural steels at elevated temperatures must be characterized before these systems can be reliably deployed. This study investigates the corrosion behavior of Type 316 stainless steel in static LLE under applied stress conditions at 550°C using C-ring stress corrosion specimens. Post exposure analysis via optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, and ICP-AES revealed preferential Ni depletion, localized Pb penetration, and a possible austenite to ferrite phase transformation at the affected regions. A counterintuitive trend in which applied stress reduced mass loss was also observed, consistent with findings reported in the literature. These results establish a benchmark for future flowing LLE loop studies at UNM.
Keywords
Lead-lithium eutectic, corrosion, fusion, static, stress, breeding blanket
Document Type
Thesis
Language
English
Degree Name
Nuclear Engineering
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Nuclear Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Dr. Osman Anderoglu
Second Committee Member
Dr. Eric Lang
Third Committee Member
Dr. Marie Romedenne
Recommended Citation
Levario, Daniel E.. "Investigating the corrosion behavior of stainless steel 316 in static lead lithium eutectic under applied stressed conditions." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ne_etds/160