Transgranular, Granulated, and Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking in AISI 304 SS

Abstract

This paper discuses the stress corrosion cracking observed when slow strain rate tests were run on AISI 304 stainless steel specimens in oxygenated 288 C water. Transgranular, intergranular, and granulated stress corrosion cracks were observed. The type of cracking observed was a function of the degree to which the specimens were sensitized. The degree of sensitization also determined the tensile properties observed in the specimens after these slow strain rate tensile tests. Transgranular and intergranular cracking have been reported before, but granulated cracking has not. Possible causes for granulated cracking and its relationship to transgranular and intergranular cracking are discussed. The influence of surface finish on crack initiation is also discussed.