Axial fatigue tests have been performed on a ferritic stainless steel type 444 in 3%NaCl solution and the effect of corrosive environment on fatigue behaviour was studied. Three materials with different microstructure were prepared by means of the heat treatments of annealing at 960℃ and 1000℃, and water-cooling at 960℃. In all the materials studied, the fatigue strengths at 10^7cycles in 3%NaCl solution decreased compared with those in laboratory air. In the annealed specimens, intergranular cracks were observed at low applied stresses, while in the water-cooled specimen, intergranular cracks initiated regardless of applied stress level. The crack initiation resistance decreased with increasing annealing temperature and the crack initiation resistance of the water-cooled specimen was lower than that of the annealed specimens. The same tendency was also recognized in crack growth resistance.
