As you can see in the picture, the salt is stuck to the crucible. Anyone has experience of melting salt at high temperature? Would stainless steel crucible be better?
Hi Nan Xin Wang, I found several references describing the use of alumina crucibles for preparing such melts. Apparently, the NaCl / Li2CO3 mixtures can be corrosive toward stainless steel. This is described in the following reference:
https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/htmp.2011.30.issue-1-2/htmp.2011.024/htmp.2011.024.xml
Abstract:
The ternary carbonate eutectic mixture of Li2CO3, K2CO3 and Na2CO3 as a heat transfer and storage medium has excellent thermophysical properties, but with high viscidity as compared with some other inorganic salts such as chlorides and nitrates. The addition of chlorides or fluorides to molten carbonates may improve their fluidity, but possibly making the melt become more corrosive. In this study, the corrosion behavior of type 304, 310 and 316 stainless steels in an eutectic (Li,Na,K)2CO3 melt with and without an eutectic mixture of NaCl and KCl at 973K in air have been examined. The experimental results indicated that 310 steel shows a much better corrosion resistance in molten carbonates than both 304 and 316 steels, due to the formation of a continuous LiCrO2 scale. The addition of chlorides to carbonates melt accelerated the corrosion of the steels, especially 310 steel, producing scales with more porosity.
On a more practical side: Would it be possible to pour out the melt on a ceramic surface while it is still liquid? Alternatively, you could use a platinum crucible if available.
Hi Frank, thank you for your reply. Yes, I tried stainless still and it charred. Will try to get some alumina and try it out.
For other RG discussions about corrosion resistant crucibles/materials for melting salt mixtures containing lithium salts: https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_ideal_crucible_for_sintering_at_temperatures_in_between_1200-1100_degree_Celsius https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_someone_suggest_the_material_for_tank_of_NaCL_KCl_LiCl_mixture_about_500C
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