Stress Corrosion Cracking of Sensitized AISI 304 Stainless Steel in Aqueous Chloride Solutions Containing Sulfur Species at 50 through 200 C

Abstract

Intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of sensitized AISI(1) 304 stainless steel (SS) was studied in aerated pure water and in chloride solutions with and without sulfide and thiosulfate anions at temperatures ranging from 50 to 200 C using the slow strain rate technique. At 50 and 100 C, the presence of sulfide or thiosulfate ions in chloride solution was found to accelerate IGSCC. At 150 C, sulfide ions inhibited stress corrosion cracking (SCC), while thiosulfate ions promoted SCC. At 200 C, both these ions inhibited SCC. The influence of pH, potential, temperature, and surface film composition on IGSCC is discussed.