| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1566338 | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2012 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
The liquid-metal-induced fracture mode of T91 martensitic steel was investigated by using transmission electron microscopy techniques to characterize the microstructure and crack network in specimens obtained from focused-ion beam machining at and immediately below the fracture surface. Contrary to previous claims of quasi-cleavage fracture, the dominant fracture mode is intergranular cracking at martensite laths and prior austenite grain boundaries. These fracture mode results clarify an outstanding issue in liquid-metal embrittlement of steels that generally occur in a heavily-deformed microstructure. Several cracks were arrested at intergranular carbides, suggesting a metallurgical strategy for impeding liquid-metal-induced crack propagation.
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Authors
M.L. Martin, T. Auger, D.D. Johnson, I.M. Robertson,