Corrosion of solid lithium on copper/tantalum/silicon carbide at elevated temperatures for AB-BNCT target

To assess the service life of BNCT lithium targets, the corrosion of solid lithium on copper, tantalum, and silicon carbide at elevated temperatures was studied in this work. Copper was corroded at 125 C, with its corrosion level significantly higher than tantalum which however could be corroded by lithium. In contrast, silicon carbide is resistant to corrosion from lithium. This study elucidates the corrosive behavior of solid lithium at elevated temperatures, which potentially contributes to the decrease in thickness of the BNCT target during its use. Additionally, silicon carbide was proposed as a new material for the lithium target anti-blistering layer.