Influence of aluminizing and pre-oxidation on corrosion behavior of 316Ti in liquid Pb at 600–700 °C

This study explores the possibility to extend the service temperature of austenitic steel 316Ti in liquid lead to 700 °C. To improve the material compatibility, 316Ti is subjected to three different pre-treatments prior to Pb exposure: pre-oxidation in hot air, aluminizing by pack cementation, and the combination of both. In exposure tests with duration up to 5000 hours, the combined pre-treatment comprising aluminizing by pack cementation and subsequent pre-oxidation is found to provide the most effective corrosion protection to austenitic steel 316Ti in contact with liquid Pb containing 2 × 10⁻⁷ wt% dissolved oxygen at both 600 and 700 °C. • Stainless steel 316Ti suffers from dissolution corrosion in Pb with 2E-7 wt% O. • Pre-oxidation for 4 hours in air at 1000 °C provides corrosion protection at 600 °C. • Pack aluminized 316Ti is protected by a thin Al-rich oxide scale at 600 °C. • Neither pre-treatment alone can prevent dissolution and Pb penetration at 700 °C. • Aluminizing plus pre-oxidation provides excellent corrosion resistance at 600–700 °C.