Abstract
Iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking (I-SCC) experiments on Zircaloy-4 tube were undertaken in the iodine concentration range of 0–4 mg/cm 2, the temperature range of 330–400 ° C and a nominal hoop stress of 475 MPa, using the internal pressurization method. The time-to-failure, failure strain and strain rate were measured as a function of the iodine concentration. An apparent activation energy for I-SCC was calculated from the temperature dependence of I-SCC. A fractographic interpretation was also made through scanning electron microscopic examination. The results suggest that the iodine concentration has an influence on the crack propagation step to increase the propagation rate of I-SCC, promoting the I-SCC susceptibility. It is found that the critical iodine concentration means the phenomenological value to show the iodine concentration dependence of I-SCC susceptibility, not the critical value to determine the occurrence of I-SCC. The I-SCC behavior of Zircaloy is discussed from the viewpoint of the crack initiation and propagation process.
Published Version
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