10232 Atmospheric Salt Fog Testing to Evaluate Chloride Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking of Type 304, 304L, and 316L Stainless Steel

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Product Number: 51300-10232-SG

ISBN: 10232 2010 CP

Author: Todd S. Mintz, Leonardo Caseres, Darrell Dunn and Mekonen Bayssie

Publication Date: 2010

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Nuclear power plants are now storing spent nuclear waste in onsite dry storage containers because of the limited room in spent fuel storage pools. Some of these dry storage containers are located in chloride-rich environments near coastal areas. Because many of the dry storage containers are made of austenitic stainless steels, a potential concern is the susceptibility of the canisters to undergo chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking. The objective of this work is to evaluate if atmospheric stress corrosion cracking can develop in stainless steel cask. To that end, types 304, 304L, and 316L stainless steel U-bend samples were fabricated and placed in an environmental chamber. Simulated sea salt was deposited on the surface of the samples, using a salt fog procedure. The U-bend samples were heated to various temperatures and subjected to accelerated corrosion, involving cyclic changes in relative humidity. Cracking was observed in all the samples, except for those where the temperature remained equal to or above 85 °C [185 °F].

Keywords: Stress Corrosion Cracking, Atmospheric Corrosion, Stainless Steel, Dry Storage Containers