Electrochemical aspects of stress corrosion crack growth in austenitic stainless steel

The stress corrosion crack velocity and stress corrosion threshold stress intensity, K_Isce, at potentials at or slightly different to the open circuit potential have been measured under potentiostatic control for 18Cr10Ni0.5Ti stainless steel in aqueous 46% LiCl at 105°C. In all cases, both stage 1 and stage 2 growth rate dependence on K is demonstrated. For potential vs. corrosion potential values 360 to ?50mV, a linear dependence of stress corrosion threshold stress intensity on the square root of the polarization applied was found.