Lozano-Perez and Titchmarsh 2003

Analytical transmission microscopy has been used to investiate the initiation of stress corrosion cracking in Inconel 600 subjected to constant load testin under simulated pressured water reactor primary water conditions. The observations revealed that intergranular attack proceeded by the development of a zone of polycrystalline chromia along the boundary plane intersecting either the free surface or a blunted, open crack in contact with the free surface. Ni-rich metal particles were interspersed within the chromia. Conversely, open cracks were filled with nanocrystalline NiO and large compound particles of spinel and NiO, indicating a difference in potential between closed, attacked boundaries and open cracks. Open cracks appeared to have initiated by fracture of the chromia zones, such fracture being strongly dependent on boundary geometry with respect to loading direction. The observations suggest that stress corrosion crack initiation and propagation is dependent on diffusion of oxygen through the porous oxides. Dislocations and stress could enhance diffusion as chromia was observed along slip planes at the arrested tips of blunt cracks.