Corrosion Behavior of Iron-Chrome Alloys in Liquid Bismuth

For the mass production of astatine-211, a promising radiopharmaceutical for cancer treatment, the National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology has proposed the innovative “Liquid Bismuth Target System.” The target window in this system must be made from a material that resists the highly corrosive liquid bismuth environment. To meet this requirement, a promising target window material was selected in corrosion experiments performed in stagnant liquid bismuth. Based on knowledge of corrosion in liquid lead–bismuth eutectic gained during the development of fast reactors and accelerator-driven subcritical systems, FeCrMo–alloy, FeCrAl–alloy, and austenitic stainless steel (as a reference) were selected as the specimen materials. Experiments were carried out under saturated dissolved oxygen and low oxygen conditions, and the corrosion behaviors of the specimens were evaluated, mainly by scanning electron microscopy. The FeCrAl–alloy exhibited the most excellent corrosion resistance, followed by FeCrMo–alloy. Both materials are suitable candidates for the target window. Although austenitic stainless steel was less corrosion resistant than the former two materials, it is a likely applicable for the target window under appropriately limited operation conditions (such as irradiation current and exposure time) of the liquid bismuth target system.

Corrosion of Metals and Nickel-Based Alloys in Liquid Bismuth–Lithium Alloy

Bismuth–lithium alloys are considered as primary candidates for the reductive extraction step of on-line reprocessing of a molten salt reactor fuel. The corrosion behavior of pure metals and nickel-based alloys was studied in a liquid Bi–Li (5 mol.%) alloy at 650 °C. The tantalum, molybdenum, and corrosion-resistant alloys VDM® Alloy C-4, Hastelloy® G-35®, KhN62M, VDM® Alloy 59 were studied as prospective materials for this liquid metal media. The corrosion rates were determined by gravimetric method as well as chemical analysis of corrosion products in Bi–Li alloy. Microstructure and chemical composition of samples of the materials and Bi–Li alloys containing the corrosion products after the tests were evaluated using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Metallic tantalum and molybdenum do not chemically interact with liquid Bi–Li alloy; the corrosion rate of these metals is determined only by the solubility in this medium. The corrosion rates of Ta and Mo at 650 °C were 0.09 and 0.07 mm/year, respectively. Nickel alloys are subjected to severe corrosion in liquid Bi–Li alloys due to dissolution of nickel in liquid bismuth. Alloys of this type cannot be used in such an environment.

Characterization of Soldering Alloy Type Bi-Ag-Ti and the Study of Ultrasonic Soldering of Silicon and Copper

The aim of the research work was to characterize the soldering alloy type Bi-Ag-Ti and to study the direct soldering of silicon and copper. Bi11Ag1.5Ti solder has a broad melting interval. Its scope depends mainly on the content of silver and titanium. The solder begins to melt at the temperature of 262.5 ∘C and full melting is completed at 405 ∘C. The solder microstructure consists of a bismuth matrix with local eutectics. The silver crystals and titanium phases as BiTi2 and Bi9Ti8 are segregated in the matrix. The average tensile strength of the solder varies around 42 MPa. The bond with silicon is formed due to interaction of active titanium with the silicon surface at the formation of a reaction layer, composed of a new product, TiSi2. In the boundary of the Cu/solder an interaction between the liquid bismuth solder and the copper substrate occurs, supported by the eutectic reaction. The mutual solubility between the liquid bismuth solder is very limited, on both the Bi and the Cu side. The average shear strength in the case of a combined joint of Si/Cu fabricated with Bi11Ag1.5Ti solder is 43 MPa.

Образование при отжиге дроплетов в нанопорошке Bi-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=-, полученном импульсным электронным испарением в вакууме

Using a method of pulsed electron beam evaporation in vacuum was produced the mesoporous multiphase amorphous and crystal nanopowder of Bi2O3 with a specific surface area up to 23 sq.m/g. Influence of thermal annealing of powder (200-300 0C) in air is investigated. The formation of droplets with a size of 2-5 nm was found on the surface of all large nanoparticles that make up the framework 3D nanopowder agglomerates due to extrusion of liquid bismuth from the volume during cooling.