Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking of Austenitic Stainless Steel at Temperatures Below 100 C — A Review

The environmental and metallurgical factors in the intergranular stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steel at temperatures below 100 C has been examined. The behavior of annealed and sensitized microstructures in a variety of environments, including oxygen-containing pure water and aqueous solutions containing species such as chloride, fluoride, polythionates, and other sulfur species is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of sulfur oxyanions as aggressive species that can induce intergranular cracking at very low concentrations in industrial environments. Electrochemical and metallurgical aspects associated with the development of intergranular cracks in these environments are thoroughly discussed, and the mechanistic implications are addressed.