Peculiarities of stress corrosion fracture of sensitized and neutron irradiated chromium-nickel austenitic steel

Abstract

The results of SEM studies of fracture surfaces for the 12Cr18Ni9 austenitic steel ruptured under a fixedtensile load in FeCl3 water solutionand in air are presented. The samples of austenized, sensitized at 650° and irradiated with neutrons (to 1020n/cm2) steel were examined. It was shown thatirradiation hardening and sensitizing annealing increased the susceptibility of steel to intergranular cracking in corrosive solution. Structural features of formation of the strain-induced α’-martensite and its reinforcing effect on fracture in various environments are discussed.