The influence of temperature on the susceptibility of type AISI 304 stainless steel to transgranular and intergranular stress corrosion cracking in LiCl solutions

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of type AISI 304 stainless steel in 6.5 and 11.8 N LiCl solutions in the temperature range 25–130°C and at constant potential was studied by using intermediate strain rate and slow strain rate techniques. At high temperatures transgranular cracking predominated at potentials close to the pitting potential, while intergranular cracking increased as the applied potential decreased. Only transgranular SCC propagation rates could be predicted by the intermediate strain rate technique. At room temperature, both transgranular cracking and pitting were found at potentials close to the pitting potential. The results are discussed from the point of view of the surface mobility SCC mechanism. This mechanism gives a good prediction of the effect of temperature on SCC velocity.