• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.338.1-338
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• 2002

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2004

We have synthesized new aromatic polyesters (DiPEG-HQ and DiPEG-BP) by condensation polymerization of a terephthalic acid derivative bearing a pendant oligo(oxyethylene) (DP = 7, MW = 350), which has a methoxy terminal group, and two different aromatic diols, hydroquinone and 4,4'-biphenoI. The synthesized polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry for their liquid crystallinity (LC), thermal transitions, and structural morphologies in mesophases. The morphology of the LC phases depends strongly on the length of the rigid backbone repeating unit. The DiPEG-BP polymer having a longer repeating unit exhibits both layered and nematic structures before isotropization, whereas the DiPEG-HQ polymer having a shorter repeating unit shows only the layered structure in the mesophase. We found that the layer spacing for DiPEG-HQ is larger than that for DiPEG-BP. Both polymers easily form complexes with LiCF$_3$SO$_3$; we studied this complex formation by FT-IR spectroscopy. The layer spacing of the polymer-electrolyte composites increases upon increasing the amount of the lithium salt. The polymer/salt electrolyte mixtures we investigated at molar ratios of EO:salt in the range of 5-20 exhibit electrical conductivity values at 40$^{\circ}C$ of 2.4${\times}$10$\^$5/ and 1.1${\times}$10$\^$－5/ S/cm for DiPEG-HQ/LiCF$_3$SO$_3$ and DiPEG-BP/LiCF$_3$SO$_3$, respectively. At 80 $^{\circ}C$, these values are higher: 4.6${\times}$10$\^$－3/ and 1.1${\times}$10$\^$－4/ S/cm, respectively. The activation energy of conductivity depends strongly on the salt concentration.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.646-651
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• 2008

The electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuel involves the liberation of oxygen in a molten LiCl electrolyte, which results in a chemically aggressive environment that is too corrosive for typical structural materials. It is essential to choose the optimum material for the process equipment handling molten salt. IN713LC is one of the candidate materials proposed for application in electrolytic reduction process. In this study, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) top coat was applied to a surface of IN713LC with an aluminized metallic bond coat by an optimized plasma spray process, and were investigated the corrosion behavior at $675^{\circ}C$ for 216 hours in the molten salt $LiCl-Li_2O$ under an oxidizing atmosphere. The as-coated and tested specimens were examined by OM, SEM/EDS and XRD, respectively. The bare superalloy reveals obvious weight loss, and the corrosion layer formed on the surface of the bare superalloy was spalled due to the rapid scale growth and thermal stress. The top coatings showed a much better hot-corrosion resistance in the presence of $LiCl-Li_2O$ molten salt when compared to those of the uncoated superalloy and the aluminized bond coatings. These coatings have been found to be beneficial for increasing to the hot-corrosion resistance of the structural materials for handling high temperature lithium molten salts.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2007

The precipitation reaction of some rare earth chlorides ($Ce/Nd/GdCl_3$) in a LiCl-KCl molten salt has been carried out by reaction with oxygen. Identification of rare earth precipitates by reaction with oxygen and effects of oxygen sparging time (max. 420 min) and molten salt temperature ($450{\sim}750^{\circ}C$) on conversion were investigated. In this study, regardless of the oxygen sparging time and the molten salt temperature, oxychlorides (REOCl) for $NdCl_3$ and $GdCl_3$, and an oxide ($REO_2$) for $CeCl_3$ are formed as a precipitate, which are identical with the estimation results of Gibbs free energy of reaction (${\Delta}G_r$). The conversion of rare-earth chlorides into insoluble precipitates was described by using a conversion ratio. The conversion ratio increased exponentially with the oxygen sparging time and finally showed asymptotic value, over 0.999 at $750^{\circ}C$ of the molten salt temperature and over 300 min of sparging time conditions. The conversion ratios were increased with the molten salt temperature. In case of $CeCl_3$, when the sparging time exceed 60 min, the values of the conversion ratio were nearly constant over 0.999 in all experimental temperature conditions.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2020

Two commonly used ceramics in molten salt research are alumina and mullite. The two ceramics were exposed to a combination of rare earth chlorides (YCl₃, SmCl₃, NdCl₃, PrCl₃, and CeCl₃; each rare earth chloride of 1.8 weight percent) in LiCl-KCl at 773 K for approximately 13 days. Scanning electron microscopy with wave dispersion spectra was utilized to investigate a formation layer or deposition of rare earths onto the ceramic. Only the major constituents of the ceramics (Al, Si, and O₂) were observed during the wave dispersion spectra. X-ray fluorescence was used as well to determine concentration changes in the molten salt as a function of ceramic exposure time. This study shows no evidence of ionic exchange or layer formation between the ceramics and molten chloride salt mixture. There are signs of surface tension effects of molten salt moving out of the tantalum crucible into secondary containment.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.251-259
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• 2004

In the development of the advanced spent fuel management process based on the molten salt technology, it is essential to choose the optimum material for the process equipment handling molten salt. Corrosion behavior of Ni 200 and Ni-base alloys in molten salt of LiCl-$Li_2$O under oxidation atmosphere was investigated in the temperature range of $650～800^{\circ}C$ for 24～312 hrs. The order of corrosion rate was Ni 200 > Inconel 690 > Inconel 601 > Inconel 600. Inconel 600 alloy showed the highest corrosion resistance among the examined alloys, but Ni 200 exhibited the highest corrosion rate. Corrosion products of Inconel 600 and Inconel 601 were $Cr_2$$O_3$ and $NiFe_2$$O_4$. In case of Inconel 690, a single layer of $CrO_2$$O_3$ was formed in the early stage of corrosion and an outer layer of $NiFe_2$O$_4$ and inner layer of $Cr_2$$O_3$ were formed with increase of corrosion time. Inconel 600 showed local corrosion behavior and Inconel 601, 690 showed uniform corrosion behavior.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2002

The corrosion behavior of alloys in a molten salt was investigated along with the oxidation characteristics in the air. The basic composition of alloys in the study was Fe-25Ni-7Cr with Si and RE(rare-earth metal) as additives. The corrosion rate of the alloys was low in a molten salt of LiCl while the rate was high in the mixed molten salt of LiCl and $Li_2O$. When Si is added to the base alloy of Fe-25Ni-7Cr, corrosion resistance was improved as the Si content is increased up to 3%, however, it was observed that the corrosion resistance was getting worse as the Si content is increased. The base alloy with 2.43% of Si and 0.9% of RE(KSA-65), showed higher corrosion rate compared to that of KSA-63 alloy with an equivalent amount of only Si. The corrosion resistance of KSA-65 was similar to that of the base alloy(KSA-60). The oxidation resistance of KSA-65 alloy was greatly increased even at $850^{\circ}C$ for a long term exposure.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.415-419
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• 2004

The electrode potential characteristics of a YSZ based membrane metal oxide electrode have been studied in molten LiCL at $700^{\circ}C$ by the potentiometric method. The electrode exhibited a good potential response to log[$O^2$] and data reproducibility. The calibration plot (potential vs. log[$O^2$] was found to be linear, obeying the Nernst equation. The electrode potential showed a good reversibility corresponding to increase/decrease of the oxide ion present in the molten LiCl. The physical and chemical durability appeared to be sound after several repeated uses, resulting in reproducible results. However, "the proposed electrode" failed when metallic Li was present in the melt.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2005

Li-doped NiO was synthesized by molten salt method. $LiNO_3$-LiOH flux was used as a source for Li doping. $NiCl_2$ was added to the molten Li flux and then processed to make the Li-doped NiO material. Li:Ni ratios were maintained from 5:1 to 30:1 during the synthetic procedure and the Li doping amount of synthesized materials were found between 0.086-0.190 as a Li ion to Ni ion ratio. Li doping did not change the basic cubic structural characteristics of NiO as evidenced by XRD studies, however the lattice parameter decreased from 0.41769nm in pure NiO to 0.41271nm as Li doping amount increased. Hydrogen gas sensors were fabricated using these materials as thick films on alumina substrates. The half surface of each sensor was coated with the Pt catalyst. The sensor when exposed to the hydrogen gas blended in air, heated up the catalytic surface leaving rest half surface (without catalyst) cold. The thermoelectric voltage thus built up along the hot and cold surface of the Li-doped NiO made the basis for detecting hydrogen gas. The linearity of the voltage signal vs $H_2$ concentration was checked up to 4% of $H_2$ in air (as higher concentrations above 4.65% are explosive in air) using Li doped NiO of Li ion/Ni ion=0.111 as the sensor material. The response time T90 and the recovery time RT90 were less than 25 sec. There was minimum interference of other gases and hence $H_2$ gas can easily be detected.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.276.2-276
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• 2001