Stress corrosion cracking of neutron irradiated type 304 stainless steels

To study the effect of minor elements on the irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC), a high purity type 304L stainless steel and its heats doped minor elements, Si, P, S, C and Ti were irradiated at 513 K to 6.7 x 1024 n/m2 (E>1 MeV). After irradiation, susceptibility to the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) was evaluated by the slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test in an oxygenated high purity water at 573 K, and the fracture surface of the specimens was examined by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The specimens showed high susceptibilities to SCC. Specimens without addition of C showed the intergranular type SCC (IGSCC), while C doped specimens generally failed by the transgranular type SCC (TGSCC). Addition of C into the hi purity alloy caused an enhancement of radiation hardening and a remarkable increase in maximum stress during SSRT test. Enrichment of Si changed specifically tensile properties after irradiation and decreased maximum stress and improved total elongation. Addition of S greatly enhanced the IASCC susceptibility and addition of P seemed to be beneficial for suppressing it. An effect of Ti was not prominent in the alloy with a high C concentration