K. Nakata et al., INTERGRANULAR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SENSITIZED TYPE-304 STEEL IN 561 K PURE WATER UNDER GAMMA-RAY IRRADIATION, Nuclear Engineering and Design, 153(1), 1994, pp. 35-41
Intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of sensitized type 304
stainless steel has been investigated in 561 K water under gamma-ray
irradiation at a flux of 2.6 x 10(3) C kg(-1) h(-1) by slow-strain-rat
e tensile tests. The IGSCC susceptibility was enhanced by gamma-ray ir
radiation in water containing 8 ppm dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO depe
ndence of the IGSCC susceptibility was observed in the water under gam
ma-irradiation. Although slight IGSCC susceptibility was observed even
in deaerated water (less than 1 ppb DO) under gamma-ray irradiation,
the susceptibility was completely suppressed by injection of hydrogen
into the water. The enhancement of IGSCC susceptibility seems to be re
lated to the formation of H2O2 in high temperature water by radiolysis
under gamma-ray irradiation and the H2O2 formation rate is markedly d
ecreased by hydrogen injection.