TRANSGRANULAR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING OF LOW-ALLOY STEELS IN DILUTED SOLUTIONS

The state of knowledge in the field of transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) of low-alloy steels (LAS) in near neutral diluted sol utions was reviewed with particular attention to the understanding of cracking mechanisms and to determination of the important parameters f or onset of cracking phenomena. The principal industrial fields where LAS are used have been reported, and the need to use findings from all research teams concerned with the problem was stressed. Attention was focused particularly on results obtained on nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels, whose behavior is similar to that of LAS for buri ed pipelines. Further research will be important to understand the cra ck nucleation phase and time-dependent effects. The goal should be to identify service parameters responsible for onset and growth of enviro nmentally assisted cracks.