Formation kinetics and rupture strain of Ni-Cr-Fe alloy corrosion films formed in high-temperature water

Nickel alloys such as Alloy 600 undergo stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in pure water at temperatures between about 260 °C and the critical point. Increasing the level of Cr in Ni-Fe-Cr alloys increases SCC resistance in aerated and deaerated water. The mechanism for Cr influence is not understood. The effect of Cr composition on the in-situ oxide rupture strain and corrosion kinetics of Ni-9Fe-Cr alloys was determined experimentally, to evaluate whether the rupture-dissolution model for SCC can account for the effect of Cr on SCC. The alloy corrosion rate and corrosion product oxide microstructure and mechanical properties are strongly influenced by Cr composition. As Cr concentration increases from 5 to 30 pct, oxide rupture strains measured in pressurized water at 288 °C increase from about 8×10⁻⁴ to 2×10⁻³ mm/mm. Corrosion kinetics are parabolic; the corrosion rate first increases and then decreases as Cr increases from 5 to 39 pct. These observations are qualitatively consistent with a rupture-dissolution SCC mechanism. However, parametric modeling of the SCC growth process, applying available creep, oxide rupture strain, and corrosion kinetics data, indicates that the rupture-dissolution mechanism accounts for only a fraction of the effect of Cr on SCC resistance.