Irradiation assisted corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (IAC/IASCC) in nuclear reactor systems and components

Abstract: Irradiation assisted corrosion (IAC) and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) refer to the effect of irradiation on the enhancement of an inherent susceptibility to corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC), respectively. This chapter introduces the effects of irradiation on the alloy and on water chemistry and their roles in accelerating corrosion and SCC in-reactor. The processes by which irradiation affects the alloy microstructure and water chemistry are described, followed by the basic SCC dependencies in austenitic stainless steels, nickel alloys and zirconium alloys in unirradiated conditions and how they are accentuated or diminished as a result of radiation.