Electrochemical noise measurements of stress corrosion cracking of sensitised austenitic stainless steel in high-purity oxygenated water at 288°C
Stewart J., Wells DB., Scott PM., Williams DE.
Corrosion current pulses associated with the nucleation of microcracks and their movement across single grain boundary facets were detected for intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of sensitised type 304 stainless steel by high-purity oxygenated water at 288°C (BWR conditions). Estimates of crack-tip dissolution width and current density were derived. The idea of microstructural barriers to the propagation of short stress corrosion cracks was developed; a simple statistical model, based on a jump probability to cross a barrier, was developed for crack advance. In contrast to circumstances at ambient temperature, strain-induced martensite formation did not occur and the fatal crack appeared slowly to advance out from one of the longer, apparently arrested, microcracks. © 1991.