Evaluation of Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Three Heats of Alloy 600 in 400 °C Hydrogenated Steam Condition

Abstract

For Alloy 600, primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) is one of the key material degradation mechanisms in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). To identify the governing factors of PWSCC resistance, a systematic investigation into the role of each factor was performed. A PWSCC initiation test was performed for 3 heats of Alloy 600 in the 400 • C hydrogenated steam condition. Based on the test results, the effects of known factors like chemical composition, mechanical strength, grain boundary carbide coverage, grain boundary character, and surface cold work on PWSCC resistance were discussed. In addition, surface oxide morphology and penetrative oxide depth was compared. From this study, grain boundary character was considered to be the most dominant factor affecting the PWSCC resistance.