Abstract
Stress corrosion crack (SCC) growth rate tests were conducted on sensitized and non-sensitized stainless steels (Type 304, 304L) cold worked to levels between 18 and 28%. Compact tension specimens were actively loaded to a stress intensity factor of approximately 38 MPa√m and exposed to high temperature, high purity water at 360°C under constant load conditions. Specimens were also ring loaded to a K level of approximately 35 MPa√m and exposed to high temperature high purity water at 338°C. SCC was observed in every specimen test with the exception of the 304L specimen cold worked 18%. The crack front engagement was greater than 50% in all of the specimens that exhibited SCC with the exception of the non-sensitized Type 304 specimen that was cold worked 19%. Intergranular SCC can occur in heavily cold worked (30%) Type 304 and 304L stainless steel exposed to high temperature, high purity water under static loading conditions without the presence of anions at 360°C. These results show that intergranular SCC can occur in heavily cold worked (20-30%) Type 304 stainless steel exposed to high temperature, high purity water under static loading conditions without the presence of anions at 338°C. The measured SCC growth rates for non-sensitized Type 304 and 304L stainless steels were significantly below the SCC growth rates predicted for Alloy 600 under the same environmental and loading conditions. The measured SCC growth rate for sensitized Type 304 stainless steel was consistent with the SCC growth rate predicted for Alloy 600 under the same environmental and loading conditions.
