Open AccessCORROSION OF STAINLESS STEEL IN THOREX PROCESS SOLUTIONS
Author(s) -
P.M. Kranzlein
Publication year - 1959
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4192957
Subject(s) - corrosion , dissolution , purex , metallurgy , materials science , boiling , evaporator , evaporation , chemistry , heat exchanger , extraction (chemistry) , thermodynamics , solvent extraction , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography
The corrosion of 304L and 309SCb stainless steel was studied in HF--HNO/ sub 3/ solutions proposed for the Thorex process. Except for the dissolving and waste evaporation steps in the Thorex process, corrosion of 304L and 309SCb is not expected to exceed that experienced in the Purex process. To minimize the high initial corrosion rate of 309SCb in the boiling HF-- HNO/sub 3/ dissolving solution, a heel of thorium should be maintained in the dissolver. The corrosion rate of 304L in the low activity waste evaporator can be reduced by adding one mole of aluminum per mole of fluoride to the evaporator feed. (auth