MICROSTRUCTURAL EFFECTS ON THE STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING BEHAVIOR OF MEDIUM AND HIGH-STRENGTH STEELS

The effects of variations in microstructure and strength level on the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of three medium to high strength steels, H13, 300M, and HY-130, in 3.5 pct NaCl have been systematically studied. Superimposed on the expected inverse dependence of KISCC on yield strength was more than an order of magnitude reduction in crack growth rate, with no strength penalty. These results have been analyzed in terms of the possible relative roles of different microstructural features, in particular retained austenite, whose detailed behavior is the subject of a companion paper. © 1991 The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, and ASM International.