Abstract The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of two bainitic 3.5-NiCrMoV low-pressure (LP) rotor steels has been studied at 95 C in environments containing species that are possible contaminants in steam condensates. The steels were a conventional modern rotor material of regular chemical composition and a super-clean steel with low levels of Mn, Si, S, and P. The environments were 3.5 M NaOH, 1 M Na2CO3 + 1 M NaHCO3 and a saturated CO2/H2O solution. A combination of slow strain rate tensile testing methods and fracture mechanics techniques were used to produce SCC. A unique specimen configuration, based on a modification of the notched double cantilever beam geometry, was developed to improve the ease of testing by fracture mechanics methods. Cracking was observed only in the NaOH and carbonate/bicarbonate environments and the SCC behavior of the two steels was reasonably similar, with the super-clean steel having slightly lower crack propagation rates in the NaOH solution. Based on 500-h exposu...