Experimental assessment of cold spray technology for corrosion protection of components facing liquid Pb-Li and FLiBe breeding blankets

September 10, 2025

In this project Westinghouse will experimentally assess the suitability of cold spray as corrosion protection technology for components that, in fusion plant concepts adopting liquid Pb-Li or FLiBe breeding blankets, are designed to operate at high temperature in contact with these corrosive coolants. To do so, Westinghouse will leverage its significant experience in cold spray’s development, optimization and successful commercial application to fission power plants to manufacture coated samples of selected blanket-facing materials. Academic partner Virginia Tech will then expose coated and uncoated samples to high-temperature Pb-Li and FLiBe coolants in static conditions, at multiple temperatures and exposure times, followed by sample examination to assess corrosion performance.