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Stress-corrosion cracking of sensitized type 304 stainless steel in thiosulfate solutions

Journal Article · · Metall. Trans., A; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02645947· OSTI ID:5669079

The stress corrosion cracking of a sensitized Type 304 stainless steel has been studied at room temperature using controlled potentials and two concentrations of sodium thiosulfate. In both constant extension rate and constant load tests, the crack velocities attain extremely high values, up to 8 ..mu..m s/sup -1/. Scratching electrode experiments conducted at various pH values on simulated grain boundary materials show that both the crack initiation frequency and crack velocity are closely related to the repassivation rate of the grain boundary material as expected on a dissolution-controlled mechanism; however, th maximum crack velocity at any potential is consistently about two orders of magnitude higher than that predicted from the electrochemical data. Frequent grain boundary separation ahead of the crack tip is thought to occur, but retarded repassivation of the grain boundary material is a necessary feature of the cracking. Effects of strain-generated martensite are discussed.

Research Organization:
Metallurgists, Corrosion Science Group, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
5669079
Journal Information:
Metall. Trans., A; (United States), Journal Name: Metall. Trans., A; (United States) Vol. 13A; ISSN MTTAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English