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Title: Intergranular crack propagation rates in sensitized Type 304 stainless steel in an oxygenated water environment

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5439585· OSTI ID:5439585

Intergranular stress-corrosion crack (IGSCC) propagation rates were measured in three heats of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel (SS) as a function of applied load and sensitization in high-purity water with 8 ppM. Active-loading tests yielded IGSCC propagation rates ranging from approx. 2 x 10/sup -10/ to 1 x 10/sup -9/ m/s (approx. 2 x 10/sup -5/ to 2 x 10/sup -4/ in./h) over the range of stress intensities from 25 to 46 MPa..sqrt..m (22 to 41 ksi..sqrt..in.). If the dependence of propagation rate on stress intensity is assumed to follow a power law, a least-squares fit of data yields (da/dt) = 1.23 x 10/sup -8/ K/sup 2/ /sup 42/ (in./h) for K in ksi..sqrt..in. Deflection-controlled tests on standard 12.7-mm-thick compact tension specimens yielded IGSCC propagation rates from 7 x 10/sup -12/ to 2 x 10/sup -10/ m/s (10/sup -6/ to 2 x 10/sup -5/ in./h) at effective average stress intensities in the range 21 to 26 MPa..sqrt..m (19 to 24 ksi..sqrt..in.). Crack lengths were determined by compilance measurements using in-situ high-temperature clip gage or LVDT methods, optical metallography on the side faces of the specimen, and fractography of the cracked surface after completion of the tests. The optical metallography measurements did not provide useful estimates of crack lengths, because large variations in IGSCC propagation across the thickness of the specimens occurred. The effects of the degree of sensitization on the IGSCC propagation rate are obscured by the data scatter. However, it seems clear that these variables do not lead to order-of-magnitude changes in the crack propagation rate.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5439585
Report Number(s):
ANL-83-93; ON: DE84005311
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English