Chemical Factors Affecting Stress Corrosion Cracking of 18–8 Stainless Steels

Abstract

Transgranular stress corrosion cracking of 18–8 Type 304 specimens in boiling 42% does not depend on rate of stressing (<1 sec to 10 min) nor on small variations in degree of plastic deformation. Cold worked specimens fail in shorter times than annealed, sheared specimens. Addition of to decreases cracking time whereas addition of increases the time. Pre‐exposure of unstressed specimens to slightly decreases cracking times of the same specimens subsequently stressed. Cracks occur along sheared edges of unstressed specimens despite stress relief anneal at 375°C for 2 hr.