The effects of rolling and sensitization treatments on the stress corrosion cracking of 304L stainless steel in salt-spray environment

U-bent and notched tensile tests in a 80 degrees C salt-spray environment were conducted to evaluate the effect of cold rolling at room temperature (CR), warm rolling at 150 degrees C (WR), and a sensitization at 650 degrees C/10 h (CRS and WRS) on the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) susceptibility of the 304L stainless steel. The CR specimen exhibited the highest crack growth rate with a greater number of short cracks found in the CRS specimen in U-bent tests. The CR specimen was resistant to HE in notched tensile tests relative to other specimens. Cracking in these specimens was more likely to initiate at the slip bands. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.