Abstract
The effect of pulsed electric current on the stress corrosion cracking resistance of aged SA508-309L welds was investigated. After the weld joints were aged at 475 °C for 2000 h, spinodal decomposition and G-phase resulted in the formation of Cr-depleted zones and hardening phenomena in δ-ferrite, which reduced the stress corrosion cracking resistance of the weld joints. After pulsed treatment, the spinodal decomposition and G-phase were eliminated, the chemical composition was homogenized, and the residual stress was removed. Therefore, the stress corrosion cracking resistance of the pulsed weld joints was even higher than that of the original unaged weld joints. Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis clarified that the pulsed electric current processing can lower the thermodynamic dissolution barrier of the precipitates and increase the atomic diffusion flux. Thus, the stress corrosion cracking resistance of the aged weld joint can be improved by pulsed electric current.
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