2020 Volume 61 Issue 7 Pages 1339-1345
In this study, we propose a simple approach to accelerate crack initiation in intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of Alloy 600 in a simulated pressurized water reactor (PWR) primary water environment. In addition, we perform three-dimensional crystallographic characterization of the crack initiation by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Initiation of IGSCC of the alloy in the PWR primary environment was realized for a flat tensile specimen in a considerably short time through a slow strain rate test (SSRT). The accelerated initiation was attributed to the asperity of the alloy surface induced by mechano-chemical polishing with colloidal silica suspension before the SSRT was conducted. Following the SSRT, the specimen surfaces were covered with thick oxide films, which prevented EBSD measurements. The sputtering of thick oxide films enabled us to characterize cracks with EBSD, thus yielding important information on IGSCC. Finally, an approach for three-dimensional characterization of crack initiation is discussed.
