Effect of irradiation on stress corrosion cracking in supercritical water

Proton irradiation was used to study the effect of irradiation on stress corrosion cracking of 316L stainless steel and nickel-base alloy 690 in supercritical water (SCW). Irradiation to 7 dpa at 400 °C and 500 °C resulted in increased stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in SCW over the unirradiated case with the severity increasing with temperature. Irradiation results in significant radiation-induced segregation, formation of dislocation loops and voids (at 500 °C) and hardening. Neither RIS nor irradiation hardening correlates with SCC susceptibility.