Abstract
The effect of minor additions of platinum group metals (PGMs) on the electrochemical behaviour and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of 304 stainless steels was investigated under different environmental conditions relevant to light water reactors. Corrosion studies were performed in simulated PWR chemistry at ambient temperature in order to evaluate the catalytic effects of the PGM additions. High temperature SCC tests were carried out within autoclave environments using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) and constant loading methods. The pattern of results obtained in this study provide strong evidence that minor additions of ruthenium to 304SS are beneficial in terms of SCC resistance and general macroscopic corrosion behaviour. The improved resistance to intergranular SCC may be associated with enrichment of ruthenium and molybdenum species within the dual oxide surface layers, as revealed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy.
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