As part of the energy transition, extending the lifetime of metallic components exposed to corrosive environments is crucial, especially in the nuclear industry, where aggressive conditions lead to rapid degradation. Current maintenance methods, such as non-destructive testing using ultrasounds, are limited in detecting localized corrosion. To address this issue, luminescence-based techniques have been developed for in situ monitoring of material loss. Recent research has demonstrated the integration of luminescent materials into metallic components through additive manufacturing, providing optical properties and the potential to serve as corrosion markers. However, their behavior in corrosive environments and their luminescent characteristics require further exploration.
This thesis project aims to incorporate various luminescent candidates into metallic matrices using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) while studying the interplay between microstructure and corrosion. Corrosion will be assessed in NaCl and nitric acid environments to identify corrosive mechanisms and the optimized application. The experiments, accompanied by microstructural observations, will evaluate how long the phosphors remain fixed to the structure before migrating into the medium, an essential piece of information for defining detection devices and maintenance intervals. A test bench will also be established to monitor corrosion in situ.