Susceptibility of 12% chromium (Cr), ferritic type 405 (UNS S40500) stainless steel (SS) to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) was evaluated at 288° C in environments related to various steam generator conditions using slow stain rate testing (SSRT). Cracking susceptibility was determined as a function of different heat treatments and alloy microstructures. Results showed caustic and chloride (Cl−) solutions can cause transgranular SCC (TGSCC). SSRT in caustic solutions allowed a ranking of the SCC susceptibilities of steels with different as-received (AR) microstructures. In general, type 405 SS was found to be more susceptible to SCC in the AR condition than after heat treatments in the sensitization range. High-purity water with and without dissolved oxygen (O2) did not cause SCC.

Subject
Steel structures, Strain rate, Water, Intergranular stress corrosion cracking, Microstructure, Aqueous environments, Fracture surfaces, Transgranular stress corrosion cracking, Acidity, Steel, Sensitization, Caustic stress corrosion cracking, Stress corrosion cracking
Keywords:
aqueous environments, chloride, chromium, ferritic stainless steel, heat treatment, sensitization, slow strain rate testing, steam generators, stress corrosion cracking, temperature
NACE International
1994
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