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Insights into Stress Corrosion Cracking Mechanisms from High-Resolution Measurements of Crack-tip Structures and Compositions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Stephen Michael Bruemmer  and
Larry Thomas
Stephen Michael Bruemmer
Affiliation:
bruemmer@pnl.gov
Larry Thomas
Affiliation:
larry.thomas@pnl.gov, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States
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Abstract

Results are presented employing cross-sectional analytical transmission electron microscopy (ATEM) to examine intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of austenitic stainless alloys in high-temperature water environments. Microstructural, chemical and crystallographic characterization of buried interfaces at near-atomic resolutions is used to investigate corrosion/oxidation reactions, composition changes and deformation events at crack tips. Information obtained by a wide variety of high-resolution imaging and analysis methods indicates the processes occurring during crack advance and provides insights into the mechanisms controlling SCC. Examples of crack tips produced in oxidizing and hydrogenated water are presented for both Fe-base stainless steels (SSs) and Ni-base stainless alloys. Cracks in SSs show similar characteristics in both environments, with oriented oxide films at crack walls and cracks ending in few-nm-wide tips. Many of these same features are seen for alloy 182 in oxidizing water suggesting a common mechanism, generally consistent with a slip oxidation process. A distinct difference is seen at alloy 600 and alloy 182 tips produced in hydrogenated water. Penetrative attack along grain boundaries without evidence for significant plastic deformation is believed to indicate a major role of active-path corrosion/oxidation in the SCC process.

Keywords

corrosiontransmission electron microscopy (TEM)grain boundaries
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1264: Symposia Z/BB – Basic Actinide Science and Materials for Nuclear Applications , 2010 , 1264-BB01-09
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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