Decoupling the contribution of radiation-induced segregation and radiation-hardening to IASCC with cold-rolled high-Si containing tailored stainless steel

The cold-rolled model alloys were prepared to simulate radiation-induced segregation (RIS) at the grain boundary and hardening of stainless steels at a neutron dose of 3 dpa. The combined effects of RIS and strain hardening on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) growth behavior of these model alloys were studied in simulated deaerated pressurized water reactor (PWR) primary water. The model alloys with high Si and low or high Cr content exhibit low SCC crack growth rates (CGRs) in simulated deaerated PWR primary water. Cold rolling increases intergranular SCC CGRs of model alloys with high-Si content. Increasing Cr content in model alloys with high Si content decreases the SCC growth rate in high-temperature water. The SCC CGRs of model alloys in hydrogenated PWR primary water are higher than those in simulated deaerated PWR primary water. Cold rolling and high-Si content showed the synergistic promoting effect on the SCC growth kinetics of the model alloys.