Liquid lead (Pb)- and lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE)-cooled fast neutron reactors (Gen-IV LFRs) are one of the most technologically mature fission reactor technologies, due to their inherent safety, high power density, and ability to burn nuclear waste. Accelerator-driven systems (ADS), in particular, promise to address the issues of long-lived radiotoxic nuclear waste, emerging uranium ore shortages, and the ever-increasing demand for energy. However, the conditional compatibility of conventional structural materials, such as steels, with liquid Pb and liquid LBE is still an important concern for the deployment of these advanced nuclear reactor systems, making the environmental degradation of candidate structural and fuel cladding steels the main impediment to the construction of Gen-IV LFRs, including ADS. This article presents a comprehensive review of the current understanding of environmental degradation of materials in contact with liquid Pb and liquid LBE, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms and the factors affecting liquid metal corrosion (LMC) and liquid metal embrittlement (LME), which are the two most important materials degradation effects. Moreover, this article addresses the most promising LMC and LME mitigation approaches, which aim to suppress their adverse influence on materials performance. An outlook of the needed future work in this field is also provided.

液态铅 (Pb) 和铅铋共晶 (LBE) 冷却快中子反应堆 (Gen-IV LFR) 是技术上最成熟的裂变反应堆技术之一，因为它们具有固有的安全性、高功率密度和燃烧能力核废料。尤其是加速器驱动系统 (ADS)，有望解决长寿命放射性毒性核废料、新出现的铀矿石短缺和不断增长的能源需求等问题。然而，传统结构材料（例如钢）与液态 Pb 和液态 LBE 的条件相容性仍然是部署这些先进核反应堆系统的一个重要问题，这使得候选结构和燃料包壳钢的环境退化成为主要障碍。建造第四代 LFR，包括 ADS。本文全面回顾了目前对与液态 Pb 和液态 LBE 接触的材料的环境退化的认识，重点介绍了影响液态金属腐蚀 (LMC) 和液态金属脆化 (LME) 的潜在机制和因素。是两个最重要的材料降解效应。此外，本文讨论了最有希望的 LMC 和 LME 缓解方法，旨在抑制它们对材料性能的不利影响。还提供了对该领域所需未来工作的展望。这是两个最重要的材料降解效应。此外，本文讨论了最有希望的 LMC 和 LME 缓解方法，旨在抑制它们对材料性能的不利影响。还提供了对该领域所需未来工作的展望。这是两个最重要的材料降解效应。此外，本文讨论了最有希望的 LMC 和 LME 缓解方法，旨在抑制它们对材料性能的不利影响。还提供了对该领域所需未来工作的展望。