Liquid metal embrittlement of the martensitic steel 91: influence of the chemical composition of the liquid metal.: Experiments and electronic structure calculations
In previous works [Scripta Mater. 43 (2000) 997; J. Nucl. Mater. 296 (2001) 256], we showed
that the martensitic steel 91 is prone to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) by liquid lead
provided that some metallurgical conditions are fulfilled. In this work, we report results of
LME of the steel 91 in contact with Pb–Bi and other low melting temperature metals such as
Sn and Hg. Our experimental results can be interpreted within the framework of the surface
energy reduction models for LME. To account for the experimental observations, we …
that the martensitic steel 91 is prone to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) by liquid lead
provided that some metallurgical conditions are fulfilled. In this work, we report results of
LME of the steel 91 in contact with Pb–Bi and other low melting temperature metals such as
Sn and Hg. Our experimental results can be interpreted within the framework of the surface
energy reduction models for LME. To account for the experimental observations, we …
In previous works [Scripta Mater. 43 (2000) 997; J. Nucl. Mater. 296 (2001) 256], we showed that the martensitic steel 91 is prone to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) by liquid lead provided that some metallurgical conditions are fulfilled. In this work, we report results of LME of the steel 91 in contact with Pb–Bi and other low melting temperature metals such as Sn and Hg. Our experimental results can be interpreted within the framework of the surface energy reduction models for LME. To account for the experimental observations, we performed electronic structure calculations to assess the chemical interaction between low melting temperature metal atoms and iron surfaces. Our results allow to establish a simple criterion that can give trends on the embrittlement power of a liquid metal in contact with iron.
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