Effect of Specimen Width on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Type 304 Stainless Steel Available to Purchase

Corrosion current density was related to crack tips (j_s), time to failure (t_f), and crack propagating length (L_ss) during the secondary region in the corrosion elongation curve under constant-load conditions. This yielded the relation: L_ss/j_st_f. Under constant environmental conditions, t_f was inversely proportional to L_ss, with j_s presumed constant. The effect of width at gauge length on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of a solution-annealed type 304 austenitic stainless steel (UNS S304000) was investigated in 0.82 M sulfuric acid solution using a constant-load method, under the assumption that L_ss was proportional to width. Results showed t_f increased with increasing width, but the steady state elongation rate (i_ss) was constant independent of width. This implied that the predicted relationship was correct. A process for SCC was discussed on the basis of that relationship.