Effect of alumina coatings on corrosion protection of steels in molten lead

Lead alloys are attractive candidates as coolants for future generation nuclear reactors (fast reactors). Unfortunately, they easily corrode structural steels of reactors. To mitigate this phenomenon, surface protective coatings may be applied. In this study, T91 steel (Cr9Mo1) samples were coated with aluminum oxide coatings (Al-O) deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The alumina coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and tribological techniques. A corrosion test of coated steel samples was performed in stagnant lead at 550 °C for 1200 h and none of the samples revealed corrosion signs.