• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.1315-1322
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• 2009

The present article is concerned with the application of an electrochemical noise (EN) monitoring technique to analyze the initiation and propagation of Pb-assisted stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of an Alloy 600 material in a simulated environment of a steam generator (SG) sludge pile at high temperatures. A typical increase of electrochemical current noise (ECN) and electrochemical potential noise (EPN) was frequently recorded from the EN measurement in a caustic solution with such impurities as PbO and CuO, indicating that there are localized corrosion events occurring. With the aid of microscopic and spectral analyses, the EN data involving information on such stochastic processes as uniform corrosion and the initiation and propagation of SCC, were analyzed based on a stochastic theory.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

Nuclear power plants (NPP) using Alloy 600 (Ni 75wt%, Cr 15wt%, Fe 10wt%) as a heat exchanger tube of the steam generator (SG) have experienced various corrosion problems by ageing such as pitting, intergranular attack (IGA) and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). In spite of much effort to reduce the material degradations, SCC is still one of important problems to overcome. Especially lead is known to be one of the most deleterious species in the secondary system that cause SCC of the alloy. Even Alloy 690 (Ni 60wt%, Cr 30wt%, Fe 10wt%) as an alternative of Alloy 600 because of outstanding superiority to SCC is also susceptible to leaded environment. An oxide on SG tubing materials such as Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 is formed and modified expanding to complex sludge throughout hideout return (HOR) of various impurities including Pb. Oxide formation and breakdown is requisite for SCC initiation and propagation. Therefore it is expected that an oxide property such as a passivity of an oxide formed on steam generator tubing materials is deeply related to PbSCC and an inhibitor to hinder oxide modification by lead efficiently can be found. In the present work, the SCC susceptibility obtained by using a slow strain rate test (SSRT) in aqueous solutions with and without lead was discussed in view of the oxide property. The oxides formed on Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 in aqueous solutions with and without lead were examined by using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), an energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2018

This article reviews the multiscale nature of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) observed by high-resolution characterizations in austenite stainless steels and Ni-base superalloys in light water reactors (including boiling water reactors, pressurized water reactors, and supercritical water reactors) with related opinions. A new statistical summary and comparison of observed degradation phenomena at different length scales is included. The intrinsic causes of this multiscale nature of SCC are discussed based on existing evidence and related opinions, ranging from materials theory to practical processing technologies. Questions of interest are then discussed to improve bottom-up understanding of the intrinsic causes. Last, a multiscale modeling and simulation methodology is proposed as a promising interdisciplinary solution to understand the intrinsic causes of the multiscale nature of SCC in light water reactors, based on a review of related supporting application evidence.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.2552-2564
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• 2020

The crevice stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of austenitic stainless steels was evaluated in simulated pressurized water reactor (PWR) environments. To simulate the abnormal condition in temporary clamping devices on leaking small bore pipes, crevice bent beam (CBB) tests were performed in the oxygenated as well as hydrogenated conditions. No SCC cracks were found for SS316 in both conditions. SS304 also showed good resistance in the hydrogenated condition. However, all SS304 specimens showed SCC cracks in the oxygenated condition, indicating poor crevice SCC resistance. It was found that residual ferrites were selectively dissolved because of the galvanic corrosion coupled with the neigh-bouring austenite phase, resulting in SCC initiation in SS304. Crack morphologies were mostly transgranular assisted by the damaged δ-ferrite and deformation-induced slip bands.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-136
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• 1984

The characteristics of the stress corrosion cracking of SUS 304 stainless steel were studied with the specimens of the constant displacement type under the environment of various MgCl sub(2) aqueous solutions. Main results obtained are as follows; 1) Latent time of crack initiations is delayed in the SCC under low condition of initial stress intensity K sub(Ii) value. 2) SCC occurs owing to the passive film-rupture by both load and Cl ion under MgCl sub(2) boiled aqueous solution. 3) The susceptibility of SCC can be largely improved by reducing the temperature in case of the high concentration of MgCl sub(2) aqueous solution.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.280-287
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• 2015

The German Guidelines for stainless steel in buildings (Z.30.3-6) issued by the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) categorizevarious stainless steel grades into five corrosion resistance classes (CRCs). Only 21 frequently used grades are approved and assigned to these CRCs. To assign new or less commonly used materials, a large program of outdoor exposure tests and laboratory tests is required. The present paper shows theresults of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) tests that can distinguish between different CRCs. Slow strain rate tests (SSRT) were performedin various media and at different temperatures. CRC IV could be distinguished from CRC II and CRC III with a 31.3 % $Cl^-$ as $MgCl_2$ solutionat $140^{\circ}C$. CRC II and CRC III could be differentiated by testing in a 30% $Cl^-$ as $MgCl_2$ solutionat $100^{\circ}C$.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2008

Physical properties of water, such as dielectric constant and ionic product, significantly vary with the density of water. In the supercritical conditions, since density of water widely varies with pressure, pressure has a strong influence on physical properties of water. Dielectric constant represents a character of water as a solvent, which determines solubility of an inorganic compound including metal oxides. Dissociation equilibrium of an acid is also strongly dependent on water density. Dissociation constant of acid rises with increased density of water, resulting in drop of pH. Density of water and the density-related physical properties of water, therefore, are the major governing factors of corrosion and environmentally assisted cracking of metals in supercritical aqueous solutions. This paper discusses importance of "physical properties of water" in understanding corrosion and cracking behavior of alloys in supercritical water environments, based on experimental data and estimated solubility of metal oxides. It has been pointed out that the water density can have significant effects on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of metals in supercritical water, when dissolution of metal plays the key role in the cracking phenomena.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 1999

Fracture toughness({TEX}$J_{IC}${/TEX}) on 304 austenitic stainless steel weldments artificially degraded for long period under SCC environments were evaluated to investigate its reliability and environmental characteristics. Electro-chemical polarization tests were previously carried out to evaluate corrosion susceptiblility of weldment, and stress corrosion cracking was tested under various conditions of 3.5wt.% NaCl solution, the temperature of $25^{\circ}$C and $95^{\circ}$C, and oxygen concentration during 3000hours. From the results obtained, it was found that 304 stainless steel weldment was so susceptible under high temperature and high oxygen concentration of 3.5wt.% NaCl solution, and fracture toughness({TEX}$J_{IC}${/TEX}) was also considerably reduced by material degradation.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.118-124
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• 2011

Alloy 600 (Ni 75 wt%, Cr 15 wt%, Fe 10 wt%) as a heat exchanger tube of the steam generator (SG) in nuclear power plants (NPP) has been degraded by various corrosion mechanism during the long-term operation. Especially lead (Pb) is known to be one of the most deleterious species in the secondary system causing outer diameter stress corrosion cracking (ODSCC). Oxide formation and breakdown is requisite for SCC initiation and propagation. Therefore it is expected that a property change of the oxide formed on SG tubing materials by lead addition into a solution is closely related to PbSCC. In the present work, the SCC susceptibility was assessed by using a slow strain rate test (SSRT) in caustic solutions with and without lead for Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 (Ni 60 wt%, Cr 30 wt%, Fe 10 wt%) used as an alternative of Alloy 600 because of outstanding superiority to SCC. The results were discussed in view of the oxide property formed on Alloy 600 and Alloy 690. The oxides formed on Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 in aqueous solutions with and without lead were examined by using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 1982

Acoustic emission (AE) of a high strength steel (SCM-4) was measured under stress corrosion cracking(SCC) test at a constant displacement in 3.5% artificial NaCl solution of 18.deg.C, 45.deg.C and 60.deg.C, respectively. The results are as follows; During the SCC test, AE is detected and AE count rate is approximately proportional to the crack growth rate. Even though crack is not propagated macroscopically, AE is detected. The crack growth rate of SCC and the AE count rate are higher for the solution of higher temperature, 45.deg.C and 60.deg.C, than for the solution of lower temperature, 18.deg.C. In the early stage of SCC, AE total counts mostly depend on crack growth. In the later stage, however, AE mostly depends on the film fracture and the dissolution of anode.