K. Nakata et al., EFFECTS OF GAMMA-RAY IRRADIATION ON CRACK-GROWTH OF SENSITIZED TYPE-304 STAINLESS-STEEL IN 288-DEGREES-C WATER, Corrosion, 49(11), 1993, pp. 903-909
Propagation of intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) in sens
itized type 304 (UNS S30400) stainless steel (SS) in 288-degrees-C wat
er was enhanced by gamma-ray irradiation with a flux of 2.3 x 10(3) co
ul/kg-h (approximately 1 x 10(7) R/h). Crack growth rates under irradi
ation were up to twice as large as those in unirradiated water. The ac
celeration was attributed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formed in water
by irradiation. Crack growth rates depended on the concentration of ox
ygen (O2) + 1/2 (H2O2) in the water. Injection of hydrogen (H-2) into
water prevented crack propagation under gamma-ray irradiation because
oxidizing species, such as H2O2 and O2, recombined with the injected H
-2.