Materials Corrosion in High Temperature Molten Salt Environments

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Background

Molten salts (e.g., LiF-NaF-KF, LiF-BeF2, KCl-MaCl2, etc.) have been proposed as the primary coolant of the molten salt reactor, heat transfer fluid, and thermal energy storage for the next generation concentrating solar power plants. These salts are characterized by low melting points, high thermal conductivities, low viscosities, high boiling points, and high specific heat. However, these molten salts are highly corrosive, especially at the high temperatures required for thermochemical hydrogen production (i.e., T > 850 °C). In most high-temperature corrosive environments, alloys derive their corrosion resistance from forming a continuous and stable protective oxide film on the surface of the materials. However, these protective oxide films are soluble and chemically unstable in molten salts. Without the protection of oxide film, alloy elements are attacked by dissolution in molten salt. Corrosion of the structural materials in molten salts is, therefore, an inevitable issue that prevents the successful fruition of the molten salts.

Due to the growing interest in molten salt reactors and concentrating solar power plants, the compatibility of molten salts with structural alloys and materials corrosion has been of real concern in high-temperature molten salts. In this Research Topic, we aim to bring together researchers in the field of molten salt corrosion to provide readers a comprehensive understanding of the corrosion behavior and mechanisms of materials in high-temperature molten salts. The articles will cover experimental and theoretical investigations on the performance characterization of materials in molten salt environments (fluoride, chloride, nitrate, etc.). High-quality Original Research and Review articles in this field are all welcome for submission to this Research Topic. Research interests include but are not limited to the following areas:
• Materials corrosion in molten fluoride, chloride, or nitrate salts
• Effect of impurities on the corrosion of materials in molten salt
• High-temperature molten salt electrochemical techniques
• The coupling effect of irradiation on the corrosion behavior of materials
• Modeling and simulation
• Corrosion-resistant material design
• Surface treatment technology
• Molten salt purification technologies

Keywords: Corrosion, Molten salt, High-temperature, Electrochemistry, Microstructure

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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