Thermodynamics of equilibrium states and approaches to analyzing the mass transport in metal-oxide systems

Analysis of corrosion processes has a major role in justifying the reliability and safety of developed nuclear reactors of a new generation with heavy liquid metal coolants. An approach has been developed which allows practical conclusions to be made with respect to the processes in the given metal-oxide system based on analyzing state diagrams for these systems in the “oxidation potential – temperature” coordinates. The proposed approach relies on a long-term experience of experimental and computational studies concerned with the interaction of various steel grades with molten lead and lead-bismuth, as well as with the transport of metal impurities within these molten metals. The oxidation potential of a metal-oxide system is measured in experimental studies using oxygen activity sensors developed and manufactured at IPPE. The applicability of the proposed approach to analyzing the processes of mass transport in iron-oxygen, lead-oxygen, sodium-oxygen, and iron-water vapor systems has been demonstrated.