Effect of Surface Decarburization on Corrosion Behavior of GH3535 Alloy in Molten Fluoride Salts

Corrosion test of a Ni–16Mo–7Cr alloy with a decarburized layer was conducted in FLiNaK salt at 700 °C. A detailed microstructure study was performed to investigate the corrosion behavior and mechanisms. The results show that the Fe-rich layers were formed on the corroded alloys with and without decarburization. The surface decarburization had little influence on the corrosion resistance of the alloy, whereas it caused more M2C carbide formation beneath the corrosion layer. That is attributed to the higher concentration of C gradient near the alloy surface, which was resulted from the increase in C content liberated from graphite crucible wall during the corrosion process.