AVS 52nd International Symposium
    Surface Science Tuesday Sessions
       Session SS-TuP

Paper SS-TuP29
Surface Chemistry at a LiF-BeF Molten Salt / Beryllium Metal Interface: Probing the Structure and Composition of the Post-Reaction Interface with Microscopy and Electron Spectroscopy

Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 4:00 pm, Room Exhibit Hall C&D

Session: Surface Science Poster Session
Presenter: G.R. Smolik, Idaho National Laboratory
Authors: P.J. Pinhero, Idaho National Laboratory
G.R. Smolik, Idaho National Laboratory
M.F. Simpson, Idaho National Laboratory
R.A. Anderl, Idaho National Laboratory
J.P. Sharpe, Idaho National Laboratory
D.A. Petti, Idaho National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Molten FLiBe (2LiF:BeF2) is a candidate as a cooling and tritium breeding media for future fusion power plants. Neutron interactions with this salt will produce tritium and excess free fluorine ions. Beryllium metal has been demonstrated as an effective REDOX control agent to prevent the free fluorine from reacting with structural metal components. Simply-designed experiments were performed to measure the extent and rate of Be solubility in a FLiBe mixture that was continuously supplied with HF. This paper presents results from post-test examination of the reacted surfaces. This information provides a good link to understanding the reactions taking place at the interface between the molten salt solution and the Be rod. Potential influences of bi-metal exposures, some with direct coupling, e.g., Be to Ni and Be to Fe were examined. The impacts of the bi-metal contacts upon Be dissolution in the FLiBe and potential alloying with the transition metals are examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning Auger microscopy (SAM), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).