The value of a rapid, nondestructive, quantitative field test for assessing the degree of sensitization (DOS) of reactor components with relation to susceptibility to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) has become evident. All the tests used by industry to detect sensitization have three major deficiences: (a) they are destructive (with the exception of oxalic acid test); (b) they do not quantify the degree of sensitization; and (c) they are not rapid (with the exception of the oxalic acid test). These three deficiences limit the detection of sensitization in shop-fabricated and field-constructed (welded) components. Even when mock-up procedures are used for destructive testing, the "go/no-go" tests employed will reject material that may be only lightly sensitized, even though the component would see service in an environment that would cause problems on only heavily sensitized material. A nonconservative situation would arise when a standard test would pass a material that is heavily sensitized. Such a case could result when the mock-up is either metallurgically different than the actual component or the test employed does not properly detect sensitization.

Subject
Test methods, Water, Materials, Piping, Intergranular stress corrosion cracking, Corrosion rate, Mechanical failure, Heat, Sensitization, Stainless steel, Grain boundary, Electrolytes, Samples
© 1977 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1977
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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