SCC susceptibility of solution-annealed 316L SS in hydrogenated hot water below 288 °C

Abstract Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of solution-annealed 316L stainless steel was evaluated by slow strain rate test in oxygenated, deaerated and hydrogenated water below 288 °C. At 288 °C, no SCC was found in the specimens tested in oxygenated water, while in hydrogenated water, SCC occurred irrespective of dissolved-hydrogen (DH) content in the late stage of deformation where cold-working was followed by necking. The SCC susceptibility diminishes as temperature decreased from 288 °C to RT, which was accompanied by a reduction of oxide film thickness. At 220 °C, SCC occurred at the highest DH content only, which suggests a combined effect of DH content and test temperature on the SCC susceptibility. The combined effect can be explained by anodic reaction rate, hydrogen diffusion rate and hydrogen trapping ability. The SCC susceptibility appeared to increase with DH content, which was reasonably explained by suppression of the protective oxide film formation on specimen surface and increasing hydrogen content in the specimen. Based on an SCC model that hydrogen reduces cohesive force in austenitic stainless steel lattice, the SCC behavior can be interpreted in terms of hydrogen-assisted SCC (HASCC) where corrosion-induced hydrogen production, suppression of the formation of protective oxide film caused by hydrogen, work-hardening, and hydrogen-induced reduction of cohesive force of the lattice atoms are necessary.