Experimental investigations on chloride effects on EAC of LAS under BWR conditions

This program was devoted to examine the principle effects of permanent and temporary chloride contaminations on environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) of low-alloy steels (LAS). Particular focus was laid on deriving a better understanding with regard to the effects of chloride on the general corrosion behavior of LAS in oxygenated high-temperature water (HTW) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms for crack initiation and propagation due to chloride assisted EAC. Therefore, systematic investigations on the effect of chloride on the EAC behavior of LAS were performed to understand and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The overall project was therefore divided into three phases, focusing on the effect of chloride on: 1) general corrosion, 2) crack initiation, and 3) crack growth of low-alloy steels in oxygenated high-temperature water. Studies on the effect of chloride on the general corrosion behaviour were performed by immersion tests that were evaluated using electrochemical monitoring techniques and different post-test investigation methods like SEM, ToF-SIMS, and others. From the performed investigations it is concluded that the presence of small amounts of chloride in oxygenated HTW causes an incorporation of chloride into the oxide layer, a thinning of the oxide layer thickness, and pronounced pitting. The crack initiation susceptibility of LAS was investigated using CERT tests. These tests showed an increased number of crack initiation locations and a decrease of the elongation at fracture with increasing chloride concentrations. Crack growth rate tests clearly demonstrated that not the increase in the chloride concentration per se, but the conjoint occurrence of an active or dormant crack and increased chloride concentration causes an increase in the observed crack growth rates. For practical applications of LAS in oxygenated HTW the results obtained in the frame of this project clearly indicate that short term transients, as simulated in this project, are not harmful regarding component integrity, but long term increased chloride concentrations should be prohibited since they cause increased general corrosion of LAS. Taking the risk of SCC (Stress Corrosion Cracking)crack initiation and crack growth into consideration, the conjoint occurrence of increased chloride concentrations and mechanical straining at stress levels above the yield strength should be avoided