Experimental behavior of molten SnxLiy when impacted by a vertical column of water

SnxLiy and PbxLiy eutectic alloys are being considered as liquid breeding m aterials for nuclear fusion applications. Thus, it is important to understa nd the interactions that might occur if this alloy were inadvertently to co ntact water. In an effort to study this interaction, experiments have been conducted with the molten alloys when impacted with a vertical 2.4 m tall c olumn of water at 30 degreesC. The qualitative behavior of Sn75Li25 was com pared with similar impacts of other candidate molten metals, specifically a lithium-lead alloy, Pb83Li171. Multiple pressure spikes were produced with Sn and Pb, while essentially only one initial pressurization followed by a few strongly damped minor peaks were observed with the different lithium a lloys. Hydrogen production from the lithium water interaction was measured and used to determine the extent of the chemical reaction. Dynamic pressure traces from the physical and chemical reactions are discussed and used to compare the energetics associated with the two different eutectics. It was found that the water/eutectic interactions of Pb83Li17 and Sn75Li25 are qui te similar and significantly reduced from that of pure lithium and other re active metals.