Effect of Prestrain and Strain Rate on Stress Corrosion Cracking Susceptibility of Austenitic Stainless Steels

Abstract

Effects of prestrain and prestrain rate on stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of austenitic stainless steels have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy and constant load tests. Specimens prestrained at low strain rates showed planar distribution of dislocations. On the other hand, specimens prestrained at high strain rates showed cellular distribution of dislocations having specific orientations and intersecting each other at certain angles. Surface morphology of the latter specimens indicated double slips. Constant load SCC tests by using specimens prestrained at various strain rates in air exhibited that the lower the strain rate, the higher was the susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking. This was interpreted in terms of the dislocation distribution formed by prestraining.