Title

The Corrosion of Materials in Spallation Neutron Sources

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 1998

Abstract

Efforts to measure the real-time corrosion rates of alloy 718 during 800 MeV proton radiation at currents up to 1 mA are reported. Specially designed corrosion probes, which incorporate ceramic seals, were mounted in a water manifold that allowed samples to be directly exposed to the proton beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The water system that supplied the manifold provided a means for controlling water chemistry, measuring dissolved hydrogen concentration, and measuring the effects of water radiolysis and water quality on corrosion rate. Real-time corrosion rate measurements during proton irradiation showed an exponential increase in corrosion rate with proton-beam current. These results are discussed within the context of water radiolysis at the diffusion boundary layer/beam-spot interface. However, additional factors that may influence these parameters, such as oxide spallation and charge build-up in the passive film, are not ruled out.

Volume

50

Issue

12

First Page

56

Last Page

59

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