Oak Ridge MSRE found unexpected cracking throughout the reactor anywhere Hastelloy came into contact with the salt fuel. Experiments produced various means of

Oak Ridge MSRE found unexpected cracking throughout the reactor anywhere Hastelloy came into contact with the salt fuel. Experiments produced various means of reducing the cracking, but it is not exactly true to characterize this system as "proven." In 1977 Oak Ridge concluded [1]: Controlling the oxidation potential of the salt coupled with the presence of chromium ions in the salt appears to be an effective means of limiting tellurium embrittlement of Hastelloy N. However, further studies are needed to assess the effects of longer exposure times and to measure the interaction parameters for chromium and tellurium under varying salt oxidation potentials. We know that without very precise control of the salt fuel chemistry Hastalloy N. will become brittle. It's an open question what happens with longer exposure. And that is where it was left by MSRE. [1] http://moltensalt.org.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/references/static/downloads/pdf/ORNL-TM-6002.pdf http://moltensalt.org.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ref...