Evaluation of the stress corrosion resistance of cold rolled aisi type 316 stainless steel using constant load and slow strain rate tests

Abstract

The effect of cold rolling (5 to 15% reduction in thickness) of an AISI Type 316 stainless steel on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) has been studied in boiling magnesium chloride of 45% concentration (boiling point = 428 K) using both constant load and slow strain rate methods. The constant load test results indicated increasing SCC susceptibility with increasing degree of prior deformation, whereas the ranking by the slow strain rate technique was in the reverse order. The reasons for this discrepancy have been discussed. A modified procedure of slow strain rate testing, involving the interruption of the test after a chosen duration of time and measuring average crack growth is suggested as an alternative.