Effects of Impurities on the IGSCC of Stainless Steel in High-Temperature Water

Abstract

The effects of dissolved impurities in simulated boiler water reactor (BWR) water on the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of sensitized stainless steels (SSs) were studied by constant elongation rate tensile (CERT) tests with notched specimens. Impurities studied were sulfate, nitrate, chloride, and chloride with copper and nitrate at concentrations of a few tens up to 1000 ppb. Sulfate was found to be the most harmful impurity with chloride a close second most harmful.