The influence of ppb levels of chloride impurities on the stress corrosion crack growth behaviour of low-alloy steels under simulated boiling water reactor conditions. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seifert, H.P.; Ritter, S.
• Is Part Of: Corrosion science. Volume 108(2016)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: A. Low alloy steel -- C. Stress corrosion -- C. Reactor conditions; Corrosion and anti-corrosives -- Periodicals; 620.11223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2016.03.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-938X

Abstract

Highlights: Chloride effects on SCC crack growth in RPV steels under boiling water reactor conditions. ppb-levels of chloride may result in fast SCC in normal water chemistry environment. Much higher chloride tolerance for SCC in hydrogen water chemistry environment. Potential long-term (memory) effects after severe and prolonged temporary chloride transients. Abstract: The effect of chloride on the stress corrosion crack (SCC) growth behaviour in low-alloy reactor pressure vessel steels was evaluated under simulated boiling water reactor conditions. In normal water chemistry environment, ppb-levels of chloride may result in fast SCC after rather short incubation periods of few hours. After moderate and short-term chloride transients, the SCC crack growth rates return to the same very low high-purity water values within few 100 h. Potential long-term (memory) effects on SCC crack growth cannot be excluded after severe and prolonged chloride transients. The chloride tolerance for SCC in hydrogen water chemistry environment is much higher.