• T91
• temperature
• strain rate
• SSRT
• scanning electron microscopy
• MYRRHA
• microstructure
• liquid metal embrittlement
• LFR
• lead-bismuth
• fractography
• AISI 316L
• tensile test

The present work is about the influence of LBE on the mechanical properties of AISI 316L when the intimate contact occurs.
The Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) phenomenon has been investigated. Particularly the main aims of the present work are to verify the occurence of LME for the couple 316L/LBE and to validate the method of investigation used for the embrittling couple T91/LBE.
To achieve these aims Slow Strain Rate Tensile (SSRT) tests have been performed in LBE environment and in air or Ar-H2 environment as reference tests. The tested specimens were then submitted to a microscopical analysis to investigate the microstructure and the fracture surface (fractography). The latter analyses were performed by mean of optical microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

Results from the microscopical analysis show no sign of LME for the couple 316L/LBE. The curves generated by the SSRT tests may lead to the same conclusion, but the scatter given by the 316L in all the tested environment is too big to allow us to give conclusive results. The approach used for T91/LBE seems not usable for the couple 316L/LBE. SSRT are not the proper mean to investigate LME for the couple 316L/LBE, further studies should be oriented toward the use of Fracture Toughness tests.