Neutron irradiation influences stress corrosion crack (SCC) growth of stainless steels in multiple ways. From a sound understanding of SCC under unirradiated conditions, the most likely roles of irradiation involve radiolysis, radiation hardening, radiation segregation, and radiation creep relaxation. When the contribution of radiolysis to increased corrosion potential is effectively eliminated by high H2 fugacity in
PWRs or NobleChem + H2 in BWRs, there is a greatly diminished influence of radiation segregation (esp. Cr depletion). However, the role of radiation hardening persists under these conditions, and therefore is of special interest. Based on the hypothesis that the primary role of radiation hardening is to increase the yield strength, studies have been performed on cold worked stainless steel, and show a similar effect on SCC growth rates at low and high corrosion potential.
KeyWords: stainless steel, stress corrosion cracking, radiation hardening, cold work, irradiation effects, high temperature water, crack growth rate, corrosion potential, water purity, stress intensity factor,
sensitization.