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Title: Stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue of sensitized Type-304 stainless steel in simulated BWR environments

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5425657

The effect of potential and temperature on the IGSCC of furnace sensitized Type 304 stainless steel in dilute aqueous solutions containing a variety of electrolytes, such as Na/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, Na/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ + H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, NaCl, B(OH)/sub 3/ + LiOH, and Na/sub 2/HPO/sub 4/ + NaH/sub 2/PO/sub 4/, has been studied at temperatures ranging from 100 to 275/sup 0/C using the slow strain rate technique. A critical potential above which IGSCC occurs has been determined as a function of temperature and solution composition. The propagation of intergranular cracks can be arrested by changing the potential to values below the critical potential. Corrosion fatigue crack growth rates have been measured as a function of potential and loading frequency in sulfate solution at 250/sup 0/C. At frequencies lower than 0.08 Hz a critical potential range has been determined above which the crack growth rates are greatly enhanced, corresponding to a change in the fracture mode from transgranular to intergranular. Finally, the effect of heat treatment time and temperature, as well as cold work prior to heat treatment, on the degree of sensitization of Type 304 stainless steel has been studied by using newly developed electrochemical methods. 40 refs., 39 figs.

Research Organization:
Ohio State Univ., Columbus (USA). Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering
OSTI ID:
5425657
Report Number(s):
EPRI-NP-4078M; ON: TI85920722
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English