Electrochemical Studies of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Sensitized AISI 304 Stainless Steel in Polythionic Acids Available to Purchase

U-bend specimens of sensitized AISI 304 stainless steel were potentiostatically polarized in Samans solutions containing 0.38, 0.18, and 0.03 mol/L of polythionic acid in both the anodic and cathodic directions from the corrosion potential. The effects of polarization on the stress corrosion behavior of the specimens were established. Results revealed that anodic polarization generally enhances stress corrosion cracking in Samans solution but that the stress corrosion behavior of the specimens also depended on the polythionic acid concentration in the Samans solution. High anodic polarization (+ 250 mV vs SCE and above) and cathodic polarization (− 600 mV and below) provide resistance to SCO. On the basis of electrochemical studies, it has also been established that there is a definite current density range (from 0.1 to 0.25 mA/cm²) in which SCO occurs.