• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2008

Based upon the good compatibility to neutron irradiation and high temperature water environment, austenitic stainless steels are widely used for core internal structural materials of light water reactors. But, recently, intergranular cracking was detected in the stainless steels for the core applications in some commercial PWR plants. Authors studied on the root cause of the intergranular cracking and developed the countermeasure including the alternative materials for these core applications. The intergranular cracking in these core applications are defined as an irradiation assisted mechanical cracking and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking. In this paper, the root cause of the intergranular cracking and its countermeasure are summarized and discussed.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.52-57
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• 2011

440A martensitic stainless steels which were modified with reduced carbon content(~0.5wt.%) and addition of small amount of vanadium, tungsten and molybdenum 0.4wt.%, 0.4wt.% and 0.68wt.% respectively were manufactured. Effects of alloying elements and tempering temperatures on the intergranular corrosion were investigated through the method of DL-EPR(Double-electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation). It was thought that the highest DOS(Degree of sensitization) of specimens was obtained at the tempering temperature of $450^{\circ}C$ regardless of types of alloy because of the precipitation of Cr7C3. Addition of vanadium lowered DOS a little above the tempering temperature of $550^{\circ}C$. It was considered to be effected by precipitation of VC carbides. Intergranular corrosion was influenced more by tempering temperature than by alloying elements of V, W and Mo.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2007

In the paper, with corrosion velocity measurement and metallographic observation on specimens after sulfuric acid/ferric sulfate boiling experiment, intergranular corrosion tendency of the new type ultra low carbon stainless steel developed by ourselves which experienced solution treatment at different temperatures was evaluated. A VHX 500 super depth field tridimensional microscope was used to observe corrosion patterns on the sample surfaces. The depth and width of grain boundary corrosion groove were measured by the tridimensional microscope, which indicated that the corrosion degrees of the samples which received solution treatment at different temperatures are quite different. Transgranular corrosion at different degree occurred along with forged glide lines. After comparison it was proved that the stainless steel treated at $1100^{\circ}C$ performs very well against intergranular corrosion.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 1999

Porous ceramics were fabricated from pressureless powder packing forming method using mullite and cordierite powders granulate by spray drying. The bending strength and shrinkage of porous ceramics were increased and their porosity were decreased with increasing temperature. It showed homogeneous distribution of 2$\mu\textrm{m}$ intergranular pores of mullite at 1400$^{\circ}C$, 2.5$\mu\textrm{m}$ intergranular pores of cordierite at 1300$^{\circ}C$ respedtively. Above that temperature intragranular particles were sintered and sintering by intergranular necking was extremely proceeded. In the test of thermal shock resistance sudden decrease of bending strength to $\Delta$T was not shown because intergranular large pore prevented sudden crack propagation.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.71-78
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• 1996

The effect of chemical composition on mechanical properry and corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel was investigated. The main results obtained were as follows : 1. There was a linear relationship between the tensile strength of stainless steel and the $Cr_{eq}/Ni_{eq}$. The larger the $Cr_{eq}/Ni_{eq}$ was the higher the tensile strength of stainless steel. 2. There was a good correlationship between $Cr_{eq}/Ni_{eq}$ and intergranular, gerneral corrsion rate. 3. Intergranular corrosion rate decreased linearly with increasing Cr content. 4. General corrosion rate decreased linearly with increasing Ni content. 5. Logarithm corrosion rate of intergranular and general corrosion has a linear relationship with all of the factor of $Cr_{eq}/Ni_{eq}$, Cr and Ni content.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.313-324
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• 2015

Austenitic stainless steels have been widely used in many engineering fields because of their high corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. However, welding or aging treatment may induce intergranular corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, pitting, etc. Since these types of corrosion are closely related to the formation of chromium carbide in grain boundaries, the alloys are controlled using methods such as lowering the carbon content, solution heat treatment, alloying of stabilization elements, and grain boundary engineering. This work focused on the effects of aging and UNSM (Ultrasonic Nano-crystal Surface Modification) on the intergranular corrosion of commercial 316L stainless steel and the results are discussed on the basis of the sensitization by chromium carbide formation and carbon segregation, residual stress, grain refinement, and grain boundary engineering.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.152-159
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• 1980

The temperature and the grain boundary precipitation have the great influence on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of austenite stainless steel at elevated temperature. For the purpose of investigating the mechanism concerning the change of fatigue micro crack mode in SUS 316 under various conditions low-cycle fatigue test was carried out at the elevated temperature 600.deg.C, plastic strain range 2% and constant strain rate .5c.p.m. A special attention is given to the observation of intergranular crack initiation. The results obtained are summarized as follows. The low-cycle fatigue behavior of SUS 316 at 600.deg.C is affected by transition of crack initiation mode from intergranular to transgranular. The transition is due to the aging effect, which is caused by grain boundary precipitations of Cr$\_$23/C$\_$6/. Since the intergranular crack initiation is brought about by the grain boundary sliding, the transgranular crack initiates in case that the strengthening of grain boundary due to the precipitation of Cr$\_$23/C$\_$6/ carbides takes place ahead of the intergranular crack initiation.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.709-715
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• 2006

The effects of thermal cycle condition and applied stress on the intergranular corrosion in austenitic 316 type stainless steels were investigated. Specimens were solution-treated at 1100$^{\circ}C$ for one hour and then sensitized in the temperature range of $500{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ by holding $2{\sim}300s$ with a various applied stresses of $0{\sim}8kg/mm^2$. Degree of sensitization. DOS %, was measured through polarization curve by electrochemical DL-EPR test. Microstructural observations were also conducted DOS % increased with an increase of sensitization temperature and/or holding time. Increase of applied stress resulted in increase of DOS % and more corroded surface because of acceleration of intergranular corrosion and fine grain size due to the stress. Cr depleted zone near grain boundary was observed. The amount of depletion was profounded with an increase of sensitization temperature, holding time and applied stress. $M_{23}C_6$ carbides were precipitated discontinuously at grain boundary. However, its amount was relatively small in the thermal cycle condition of 800$^{\circ}C$, 300sec and 4kg/mm$^2$.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.196-204
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• 2012

Corrosion failure of petrochemical facilities is one of the difficulties in maintenance, since operating conditions of crude oil production, storage, and refinement are very aggressive. UNS N08810, which has been used for crude oil transportation pipes and storage tanks in petrochemical industries, shows good resistance to general corrosion and localized corrosion in several environments. Among its environments, UNS N08810 showed better corrosion resistance in fuel gas containing sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid and sulfur. However, ductility and toughness at high temperature over about $500^{\circ}C$ were greatly reduced due to microstructural change. In general, welding process is the representative method to join the parts in industrial components. Because the alloy by welding can be sensitized and corroded, the manufacturing process should be controlled. In this work, UNS N08810 was used and heat treatment conditions including solution and stabilization treatments were controlled. Oxalic acid etch test by ASTM A262 Practice A was done to evaluate the qualitative sensitization in room temperature. Huey test by ASTM A262 Practice C was done to evaluate the intergranular corrosion rate in boiling 65% $HNO_3$ solution. Also, the microstructure by thermal history was analyzed. Experimental alloy showed high intergranular corrosion rate and its corrosion mechanism was elucidated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 1996

To clarify the influence of precipitation microstructure and inclusion on the monotonic tensile fracture behaviors in 2090 alloy aged at $180^{\circ}C$, the detailed measurement of hardness, tensile strength, elongation and the observation of scanning electron micrography, transmision electron micrography have been carried out. The transgranular shear ductile fracture has been observed in specimen quenched after solution treatment at $500^{\circ}C$ for 45min. While the under-aged specimen was fractured in both transgranular shear ductile and intergranular fracture mode, the fracture mode of peak-aged and over-aged alloy was predominantly intergranular fracture. The fracture behavior of each ageing condition was influenced by the change of precipitation microstructural features. In the case of peak-aged and over-aged alloys, the coarse and heterogeneous slip band caused by both shearable nature of the ${\delta}^{\prime}(Al_3Li)$ precipitates and PFZ along the high angle grain boundary aid the localization of deformation, resulting in low energy intergranular fracture. It was also estimated that the fractured T-type intermetallic phases (inclusion) and the equilibrium ${\delta}$(AlLi) phases which were formed at grain boundaries palyed an important role in promoting intergranular fracture mode.