Influence of Phase-Structural State on Corrosion Behavior of Chromium Steels in Static Liquid Lead under Loads

The corrosion behavior of ferritic (Fe-11Cr) and austenitic (Fe-18Cr) steels has been investigated in static liquid lead containing 5 × 10–7 wt.% oxygen at 550°C and exposure up to 1000 h. It was determined that corrosion damage of surface layers occurs along grain boundaries. This is accompanied by etching of grain boundaries and penetration of liquid lead into the matrix, with simultaneous dissolution of the main alloying elements (Ni, Cr, and...