Combined effects of lead and magnetite on the stress corrosion cracking of alloy 600 in simulated PWR secondary water

The combined effects of lead and magnetite on the stress corrosion cracking of Alloy 600 were investigated in simulated PWR secondary water at 315 °C. Lead induced fast stress corrosion cracking of Alloy 600, and this cracking was accelerated when the alloy was in contact with magnetite. The coupling with magnetite caused the rapid growth of the oxide layer on Alloy 600, resulting in the formation of a defective oxide layer. Based on these results, the effect of magnetite as an additional contributor to the stress corrosion cracking of Alloy 600 is discussed.