Figure 14 Intergranular Corrosion Cracking

Corrosion DOE-HDBK-1015/1-93 SPECIALIZED CORROSION Rev. 0 CH-02 Page 33 Figure 14 Intergranular Corrosion Cracking Figure 14 illustrates intergranular stress corrosion cracking. The pressure of a tensile stress opens up intergranular cracks and accelerates further corrosion. Chloride stress corrosion is a particularly significant problem in the operation of nuclear facilities because of the wide use of austenitic stainless steel, and the inherent presence of high tensile stresses associated with pressurization. Chloride stress corrosion cracks have been known to propagate in austenitic stainless steel at stresses of about one-fifth yield strength with chloride concentrations of less than 50 ppm. Yield strength is discussed in detail in the Material Science Handbook. Tests show that the 18-8 stainless steels are susceptible to chloride stress attack when both the chloride ion concentration and dissolved oxygen concentration are above certain values. The region of susceptibility for austenitic stainless steel is illustrated in Figure 15. Note that when dissolved oxygen is present at about 1 ppm, chloride stress corrosion cracking can be initiated at chloride ion concentrations near 1 ppm. However, when the concentration of dissolved oxygen is very low, susceptibility to chloride stress corrosion cracking is reduced. High temperature tends to decrease the time required for chloride-induced cracking to occur, but there appears to be no practical temperature limit below which cracking will not occur, given sufficient time and severe conditions. The curve in Figure 15 is valid for temperatures in the range 470?F to 500?F.