CORROSION-FATIGUE OF 316L STAINLESS-STEEL IN HOT LIOH SOLUTION

The corrosion fatigue behavior of AISI 316L (UNS S31603) stainless ste el was tested in concentrated aqueous lithium hydroxide solutions at e levated temperature. Fatigue tests were conducted in a 10 g LiOH/100cc H2O solution at 95-degrees-C at controlled electrochemical potentials . Experimental conditions met requirements of the aqueous Li salt blan ket option for the international and European nuclear fusion reactor p rograms of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and Next European Torus (NET). Results indicated 316L stainless steel was susceptible to corrosion fatigue in a narrow potential range of a pproximately 100 m V (vs SCE). Tests at lower or higher potentials (e. g., -80 and 200 m V), however, did not show susceptibility to corrosio n fatigue cracking. Results were compared with the stress corrosion cr acking behavior of 316L in the same environment.