Effect of Li and Cu addition on corrosion of Fe-40 at.% Al intermetallics in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic salt

The effect of Li and Cu addition to base intermetallic Fe-40 at.% Al on corrosion behaviour in an electrolytic medium of molten LiCl-55 wt.% KCl eutectic salt at 450, 500 and 550 degrees C is studied. For this purpose, an electrochemical assessment is carried out through polarization curves and polarization resistance techniques. Corrosion products are characterized through scanning electron microscope and electron diffraction scanning. The test results show that Li additions slightly increase the corrosion rate, while Cu additions improve the corrosion resistance; both results are compared with the base material resistance. Further, a first approach of the corrosion mechanism is proposed, including the formation of protective layers. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.