The Effect Of Low Temperature Heat Treatment On Stress Corrosion Crack Initiation In Machined 316l Stainless Steel In High-Temperature Hydrogenated Water

A notable reduction of the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation susceptibility was identified for machined cold-rolled 316L stainless steel that received a 650 degrees C/10 hours heat-treatment prior to slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) testing in high-temperature hydrogenated water. The cracks per unit area of the machined surface of heat-treated specimens decreased by , 50% compared to as-machined surfaces, and by >70% with respect to polished surfaces. The results were ascribed to recrystallization of the ultrafine-grains present in the outer deformation layer of the machined surface, which resulted in a reduction of the tensile residual stress and nano-indentation hardness. (C) 2021 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.