Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking Damage Model: An Approach and Its Development for Alloy 600 in High-Purity Water

A logical approach to quantitative modeling of intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) is presented. The approach is based on the supposition (supported partly by experimental and field observations, and by a related plausible underlying mechanism) that strain rate is a key variable. The approach is illustrated for the specific case of NiCrFe Alloy 600 in high-purity water. Model parameters are determined based on the constant stress IGSCC data (between 290 and 365 C) assuming a power law relation between the damage and the nominal strain rate. The model may be interpreted in terms of a film rupture mechanism of the corrosion process. The related mechanistic considerations are examined for the specific case. Resulting calculations and stress as well as temperature dependence are shown to be in good agreement with the data. More data are needed for further verification under specific conditions of interest.