Study on stress corrosion of the zone affected by the AISI 316L steel heat under PWR reactor environment at 325 deg Celsius

This paper evaluates the stress corrosion susceptibility of the HAZ (heat affected zone) of the AISI 316L stainless steel of a dissimilar welding done between the ASTM A-508 steel and the AISI 316L steel, using a nickel alloy, under a chemical environment similar to the PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) nuclear reactor primary circuit. The nickel 82 and 182 alloys were used in the GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) and SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) processes respectively. The test at slow deformation - SSRT (Slow Strain Rate Test) was applied, using a deformation rate of 3x10-7 s-1, at a temperature of 325 degree Celsius and pressure of 12.5 MPa. The susceptibility under tress corrosion evaluation was performed comparing the resistance limit, the total deformation and the fracture time obtained at the inert medium (nitrogen) and at the PWR medium. Also, the fracture surfaces were observed under a scanning electron microscope, verifying the fragile fracture regions