The topology of three-dimensional grain boundary network and its influence on stress corrosion crack propagation characteristics in austenitic stainless steel in a simulated BWR environment

Abstract

The intergranular cracking and the grain boundary network along the cracks in an austenitic stainless steel 316L after stress corrosion cracking (SCC) test in simulated BWR water were investigated in terms of three-dimensional characterization. It was found that the twin boundaries not only show a strong resistance to cracking, but they could also prevent their neighboring boundaries from cracking, as the cracking probability is lower for boundaries that have higher fraction of neighboring twin boundaries. The propagation of intergranular SCC can be hindered by triple junctions or quadruple junctions in the presence of twin boundaries.