Protectiveness of oxide films in simulated BWR crack conditions, SO42- enrichment and cracking susceptibility

Martin Bojinov, Timo Laitinen, Kari Mäkelä, Timo Saario, Pekka Sirkiä, Aki Toivonen

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    Sulphate ions in the BWR coolant dissolved e.g. from ion exchange resins increase the risk of environmentally assisted cracking (EAC). Influence of sulphate is likely to be related to the properties and behaviour of oxide films formed on material surfaces within a crack. For this purpose, the influence of sulphate ion content on the protectiveness of oxide films forming on AISI 316NG stainless steel, Inconel alloys 182 and 82 was characterised in simulated BWR crack chemistry conditions. The crack propagation rates for Inconel 182 and AISI 316NG have been found to depend on the sulphate content, being higher at higher sulphate contents. The results of the present work show that the electrochemical protectiveness of the crack wall oxide film decreases with increasing sulphate content. Thus a correlation between the protectiveness of the crack wall oxide film and susceptibility to environmentally assisted cracking is indicated. This correlation can be used to assess the susceptibility of a given material to EAC in different environments. However, a comparison of the EAC susceptibility of different materials only by comparing the protectiveness of the crack wall oxides is not recommended.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationPlant Life Management
    Subtitle of host publicationMidterm status of a R&D project
    Place of PublicationEspoo
    PublisherVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
    Pages169-178
    ISBN (Electronic)951-38-5728-X
    ISBN (Print)951-38-5727-1
    Publication statusPublished - 2001
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    EventPlant Life Management: Midterm status of a R&D project - Espoo, Finland
    Duration: 1 Jan 20011 Jan 2001

    Publication series

    SeriesVTT Symposium
    Number218
    ISSN0357-9387

    Conference

    ConferencePlant Life Management
    Country/TerritoryFinland
    CityEspoo
    Period1/01/011/01/01

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