Photoinhibition of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Sensitized SUS304 Stainless Steel

Effect of irradiation by ultra-violet(UV) light on stress corrosion cracking(SCC) of sensitized SUS304 stainless steel in a deaerated 10−3 kmol·m−3 NaCl solution has been investigated by using a slow strain rate testing (SSRT) apparatus with a dynamic observation system. The SCC initiation was inhibited by the UV light irradiation to the specimen during SSRT. Change in the light intensity led to the change in crack initiation frequency. The maximum inhibition effect was observed at an optimum intensity. However, crack propagation rate showed almost no significant dependence on any irradiation conditions.