Influences of boric acid and lithium hydroxide in simulated primary water of PWR on intergranular stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel

In order to understand systematically the influence of an environmental factor on the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) susceptibility of cold-worked 316 stainless steel, constant extension rate tensile tests were carried out under simulated pressurized water reactor (PWR) primary water conditions while varying the boric acid, lithium hydroxide, and dissolved hydrogen concentrations and temperature. It was found that IGSCC susceptibility increased for a low boric acid concentration and high lithium hydroxide and dissolved hydrogen concentrations, and a high temperature. The influences of the water chemistry changes were recognized as the changes in pH and magnetite solubility in a manner that IGSCC was promoted for higher pH and magnetite solubility. On the other hand, IGSCC crack growth rates measured using compact-tension-type specimens revealed that boric acid, lithium hydroxide, and dissolved hydrogen did not affect IGSCC crack growth rate significantly. (author)