Chloride-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking (CI SCC) of Stainless Steels: An Assessment of Crack Propagation Mechanisms

Extended review and assessment of chloride-induced SCC are performed for stainless steel focusing on lower temperature in back-end fuel cycle. This practice further supports that the dominant parameter as (local) electrode potential for the SCC presented earlier. The data base collected and analyzed suggest that the SCC propagation rate is primarily related to dissolution rate, repassivation rate, aqueous-diffusion rate, and cracking rate. A simplified correlation of these parameters is presented to assess the observed crack growth rate. Other stress-related parameters (stress, stress intensification factor, strain rate) are also qualitatively assessed. The plasticity role (as in welding) is additionally discussed.