Stress Corrosion Cracking of Sensitized Type 304 Stainless Steel in High Temperature Water Under Gamma Ray Irradiation

Constant extension rate test (CERT) of sensitized type 304 stainless steel in a high temperature water has shown that both radiation exposure to γ-rays and dissolved oxygen (DO) significantly influence the susceptibility to intergranular stress corrosion cracking. IGSCC was accelerated by radiation exposure when high DO concentration water was employed in the CERT test but not when low DO concentration water was used. It has also been confirmed that preoxidation of tensile specimens in the same water quality as that of CERT has a marked influence on preventing material failure via IGSCC even under high DO concentrations.