Fretting Wear and Corrosion in Liquid Lead-Bismuth Eutectic: A Review of Current State and Prospect
Abstract
Lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) is a promising coolant for Generation-IV reactors. The corrosion of LBE and the fretting wear caused by fluid-induced vibration will gradually become the main causes of component failure. Therefore, this paper summarizes the current state of research on fretting wear in LBE. The effects of alloy composition, mechanical load, temperature and oxygen concentration on fretting wear are discussed. It also emphasizes the interaction between fretting wear and corrosion in LBE environments. Additionally, the applicability of Archard, energy dissipation and finite element modeling in LBE is evaluated, highlighting the need for corrosion-dependent calibration. Finally, the protective strategies, including aluminide coatings, ceramic coatings, high-entropy alloy coatings and cold spray layers, are also reviewed to evaluate their ability to mitigate fretting–corrosion damage. Overall, this work aims to deepen the understanding of corrosion–fretting behavior in LBE and to guide the design of more durable materials for nuclear reactors.