Efforts to measure the real-time corrosion rates of alloy 718 during 800 Me
V proton radiation at currents up to 1 mA are reported. Specially designed
corrosion probes, which incorporate ceramic seals, were mounted in a wafer
manifold that allowed samples to be directly exposed to the proton beam at
the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The water system that supplied the m
anifold provided a means for controlling water chemistry, measuring dissolv
ed hydrogen concentration, and measuring the effects of water radiolysis an
d water quality on corrosion rate. Real-time corrosion rate measurements du
ring proton irradiation showed an exponential increase in corrosion rate wi
th proton-beam current. These results are discussed within the context of w
ater radiolysis at the diffusion boundary layer/beam-spot interface. Howeve
r, additional factors that may influence these parameters, such as oxide sp
allation and charge build-up in the passive film, are not ruled out.