The intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) behavior of cold-worked 316 stainless steels in
hydrogenated high-temperature water (500 ppm B + 2 ppm Li + 30 cc/kg-H2O-STP DH2) were
investigated using compact tension specimens that had been cold-worked in the T-S orientation. The
crack growth rates were examined as a function of cold work, temperature and stress intensity. In
addition, the influence of cold work on corrosion was investigated.
The results of the CT test on T-S orientation specimens revealed that the crack branched off in two
directions, thus deviating from the normal direction of cracking by approximately 60 degrees. The
geometric deformation of crystal grains due to cold work seemed to be caused by anisotropy, and
shear stress also assisted the SCC. The crack growth rates increased with increasing yield strength,
temperature and stress intensity. These parameters did not exhibit clear evidence of a threshold on
crack growth. The effect of cold work on increasing corrosion was less than the effect on crack growth
rate. Hence, the effect of cold work on corrosion may be insignificant for crack growth.