Stress corrosion cracking behavior of selected stainless steels in saturated potash brine solution at different temperatures

The susceptibility of UNS S31603, UNS S32550, UNS S32760, and UNS S32205 to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in saturated potash brine (KCl) solution was studied using the slow strain rate testing (SSRT) method. Two strain rates (10−6 s-1 and 5 × 10-7 s-1) and three temperatures (25, 50, and 80 °C) were used. UNS S31603 steel showed significant susceptibility to SCC, the severity of which increased with temperature, while the duplex steels exhibited considerable resistance to SCC in KCl solution for all the test conditions. Examination of surfaces of failed specimens suggests a mixture of ductile and brittle fractures.