The Application of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to Molten Salt Corrosion

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) have a plethora of advantages over light water reactors. The operate at more favorable conditions for power generation and accident conditions. These conditions lead to problems with corrosion. Monitoring of this corrosion will be required for a MSR when built. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an excellent tool for this application, as it can be done with minimal sample preparation and without having to complete the more complex sample preparation required for EDS. This work will demonstrate the utility of LIBS in showing similar features as EDS such that an understanding of the corrosion seen in a material is achieved through LIBS.