Radiation-Induced Corrosion of Mild Steel in Contact with Ion-Exchange Materials

Abstract

Irradiation of mild carbon steel coupons embedded in ion-exchange materials results in extensive metal corrosion. The corrosion manifests itself as pitting and crust formation, which results in significant coupon weight losses. Coupons in organic, inorganic, or mixed layered ion-exchange beds show this effect. These results are pertinent to the current nuclear reactor cleanup technology, which uses mild carbon steel for ion-exchange bed containers.