Effect of irradiation on stress corrosion cracking in supercritical water

Proton irradiation was used to study the effect of irradiation on stress corrosion cracking of 316L stainless steel and nickel-base alloy 690 in supercritical water (SCW). Irradiation to 7 dpa at 400 degrees C and 500 degrees C resulted in increased stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in SCW over the unirradiated case with the severity increasing with temperature. Irradiation results in significant radiation-induced segregation, formation of dislocation loops and voids (at 500 degrees C) and hardening. Neither RIS nor irradiation hardening correlates with SCC susceptibility. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.