About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Environmentally Assisted Cracking: Theory and Practice
|
| Presentation Title |
Passive Film Structure and Effects on Pit-Initiated CISCC in Welded 304L Stainless Steel for Nuclear Waste Storage |
| Author(s) |
Duc Thang Nguyen, Nathan T. Gehmlich, Jasmyne N. Emerson, Lucille V. Dentice, Rebecca F. Schaller, Mychailo B. Toloczko, Janelle P. Wharry, Maria A. Okuniewski |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Duc Thang Nguyen |
| Abstract Scope |
Welded 304L stainless steel used in spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canisters are susceptible to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC), with crack initiation and propagation primarily occurring in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of the weld. To investigate CISCC mechanisms, welded 304L stainless steel coupons were immersed in MgCl2. The coupons were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction to determine phase regions and phase fractions, as well as identify favorable crack initiation sites in the HAZ. Surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted to study the passive oxide layer. Additionally, XPS was used to analyze changes in oxide structure and chloride penetration after corrosion testing. The results suggest that changes in the passive oxide layer, alongside the phase changes caused by welding, contribute to the susceptibility of crack initiation and propagation. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Iron and Steel, Phase Transformations, Other |