Wedging Action of Solid Corrosion Product During Stress Corrosion of Austenitic Stainless Steels

A study was made of corrosion products and their effects on stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steel. Wedging action by solid corrosion products in notches or cracks induces high stresses and eventual failure of specimens by stress corrosion cracking. Data were obtained from stress-relieved and unloaded (externally) specimens so that wedging by corrosion products provided the only source of stress in the specimen. Pressures were measured in excess of 7000 psi due to wedging action of corrosion products. At the base of a notch these pressures developed stresses of the order of magnitude of the yield strength of the metal. Wedging action can provide all the energy required for stress corrosion cracking. A mechanism is proposed which involves a discontinuous type of propagation, with fluctuations occurring over one or a few atomic distances. A running or mechanical type of crack propagation for more than a few atomic distances is ruled out on the basis of the mechanics of the system. 3.4.3, 3.5.8, 6.2.5