Faculty Mentor(s)
Prof. David Ibrahim
Project Type
Honors Program project
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Presentation Type
Presentation
Abstract
The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) has been identified as a promising candidate to replace aging nuclear reactors around the world. However, a suitable combination of molten salt and container material needs to be found in order to reduce the potential for corrosion in the MSR before it can be considered commercially viable. FLiNaK molten salt and the nickel-based alloy Hastelloy N have been identified as prime candidates for this function, but the severity of FLiNaK corrosion in Hastelloy N requires additional study before this combination can be used in the operation of a MSR. In this study, Hastelloy N samples were submerged in FLiNaK molten salt for varying periods of time over a 55-hour interval and then hardness tested in order to observe the progression of corrosion over time. Regression analysis was then used to judge the statistical significance of the data. This analysis showed a linear decrease in the hardness of the Hastelloy N samples over 55 hours submerged in the FLiNaK molten salt.
Permission Type
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Chemical Engineering Commons, Materials Science and Engineering Commons, Mechanical Engineering Commons
The Effect of FLiNaK Molten Salt Corrosion on the Hardness of Hastelloy N
Fishbowl
The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) has been identified as a promising candidate to replace aging nuclear reactors around the world. However, a suitable combination of molten salt and container material needs to be found in order to reduce the potential for corrosion in the MSR before it can be considered commercially viable. FLiNaK molten salt and the nickel-based alloy Hastelloy N have been identified as prime candidates for this function, but the severity of FLiNaK corrosion in Hastelloy N requires additional study before this combination can be used in the operation of a MSR. In this study, Hastelloy N samples were submerged in FLiNaK molten salt for varying periods of time over a 55-hour interval and then hardness tested in order to observe the progression of corrosion over time. Regression analysis was then used to judge the statistical significance of the data. This analysis showed a linear decrease in the hardness of the Hastelloy N samples over 55 hours submerged in the FLiNaK molten salt.