Abstract
The applicability of an accelerated test technique using tapered tensile specimens for investigating the stress corrosion crack (SCC) initiation behaviour of structural materials in high-temperature water was assessed in the framework of a European collaborative research project (MICRIN–MItigation of CRack INitiation). The main advantage of using a tapered geometry is, that in a single test a stress gradient is obtained through the gauge length, and therefore a stress threshold for SCC initiation can be determined in a reasonable timeframe. This method was used to investigate two different materials that were known to be susceptible to SCC in light water reactor environment: a high-Si stainless steel and a Ni-base weld metal (Alloy 182). The results of the international test programme confirmed that the tapered specimen test methodology could be used to identify a SCC initiation stress threshold, albeit that significant scatter was present in the data.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Corrosion Engineering Science and Technology |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 8 Sep 2020 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- Alloy 182
- crack initiation
- high-temperature water
- light water reactors
- stainless steel
- Stress corrosion cracking
- tapered specimens