Article contents
Atmospheric Stress Corrosion Cracking (ASCC) Susceptibility of Stainless Alloys for Metallic Containers
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Abstract
Metallic canisters placed in concrete casks and containing spent nuclear fuel elements, will be exposed to a moist oceanic atmosphere while the decay heat generated in the fuel elements cools for more than fifty years. Thus, the surface environment of the metallic canisters will be wet and covered with chloride compounds. The canisters may suffer atmospheric stress corrosion cracking. Therefore, corrosion tests for some potential alloys were conducted in an aqueous bittern solution, containing 22% enriched chloride compounds simulating the expected surface conditions of the canisters, to aid in selecting appropriate alloys based on corrosion resistance. The results suggest that the corrosion resistance of ordinary stainless steels, such as SUS304 and SUS316, is not high enough to avoid ASCC (atmospheric stress corrosion cracking) in the environment. Thus, a higher-grade stainless steel, namely, NSSC270 (20Cr-18Ni-6Mo-0.2N-Low C)or SUS836L (23.5Cr-25Ni-5.5Mo-0.2N-Low C, equivalent to AL-6XN) has been selected for this application.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006
References
- 1
- Cited by