A review of stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steels in PWR primary water

Initial cases of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) occurred mostly but not exclusively in stagnant areas like dead-legs, but recently more extensive IGSCC has occurred in normal free-flowing PWR primary water. Operational experience and laboratory data reveal that the main parameters in IGSCC include cold work and weld residual strain, oxygen, and residual and applied stress. Residual strain, which arises from manufacturing, surface grinding, and welding, should be limited by optimizing manufacturing procedures, minimizing alignment and fit-up stresses and using high-quality weld procedures. Preventing oxygen ingress in the make-up water should be pursued. Stresses created by thermal fluctuations (thermal mixing, low-leakage core operation, and start-ups) deserve more attention. Weld residual stress, fit-up stresses and local stresses from load follow must be maintained below the annealed yield stress. IGSCC should be considered in aging management and in-service inspection. Detection techniques capable of identifying IGSCC should be employed.