Effect of dry/wet ratio and pH on the stress corrosion cracking behavior of rusted X100 steel in an alternating dry/wet environment

Abstract The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of X100 steel under alternating dry/wet conditions was investigated through electrochemical experiments and slow strain-rate testing. The results show that the corrosion morphology transforms from general corrosion to pitting with increasing dry/wet ratio (D/W). The corrosion product layer becomes less protective with decreasing pH, which leads to pitting and shows that anodic dissolution is promoted. In addition, local acidification under the corrosion product layer promotes the hydrogen evolution reaction. We conclude that the SCC mechanism of X100 steel under alternating dry/wet conditions at low pH and a high D/W ratio involves anodic dissolution and hydrogen evolution.