Abstract
Some instruments exposed to hot sea water have showed fracture due to SCC (stress corrosion cracking). On the other hand, fracture of austenitic stainless steels due to SCC has not been observed in a marine environment. The SCC of austenitic stainless steels has been known to occur in some environment such as concentrated sulfuric acid containing sodium chloride at room temperature. This may suggest crack propagation due to SCC even in low temperature sea water. So far, Scheil solution and hot distilled water have been widely accepted as testing enviroments for SCC. But quantitative testing method of SCC in mild environment has not yet been reported. Therefore, the present study concerning a testing method of SCC in mild environment was carried out and the results were compared with those obtained by using Scheil solution.
