Liquid metal embrittlement of an austenitic stainless steel in liquid sodium

A Fe18Cr9Ni1Mn austenitic stainless steel is shown to be sensitive to liquid metal embrittlement in liquid sodium. Good wetting by sodium is achieved during long-term pre-exposure before tensile testing in liquid sodium with additions of Na2O. Pre-exposure does not affect the normal ductile fracture mode of the steel in reference tests in the temperature range investigated ([473–673 K]). Intergranular cracking is found to play a key role in the fracture process in liquid sodium.