The stress corrosion cracking of an austenitic stainless steel in HCl + NaCl solutions at room temperature

Abstract Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of type AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel was studied in mixed HCl + NaCl solutions at room temperature. Two potential regions of SCC susceptibility were found: one near the open circuit potential, and the other near the pitting potential. The two regions were fused into a single one when the concentration of HCl was reduced. Crack velocities were predicted by the potentiostatic fast strain-rate technique and measured by slow strain-rate tests. A very good correlation was found between the predicted and measured crack velocity values. The cracks were transgranular, and the experimental results showed that an anodic rate controlling step is present in this SCC process.