Austenitic stainless steels are widely used as structural materials for chemical and power
plants. External stress corrosion cracking (ESCC) by sea salt particles can occur in these plant
component materials. ESCC susceptibility depends on environmental factors. We examined
the effects of temperature and humidity on ESCC experimentally. Uniaxial tensile loading
specimens were used for the ESCC test. Specimens were kept in a constant temperature and
humidity chamber after loading and dropping the artificial sea water onto the gage section.
Specimen surface and fracture surface were examined after the ESCC test. Crack length and
depth were measured and used to evaluate ESCC susceptibility.