Effects of chloride on electrochemical and stress corrosion cracking behavior of 9Cr ferritic-martensitic steel

The electrochemical and stress corrosion cracking behavior of 9Cr ferritic-martensitic steel is investigated in the chloride environment by using the traditional electrochemical method, the scanning vibrating electrode technique and the slow strain rate test (SSRT). Results of the static corrosion tests and corrosion morphology show that the prior austenite grain boundaries and martensite lath boundaries are the preferred sites for pit nucleation and growth in chloride environment. Results of SSRT coupled with in situ electrochemical test show that the transition from pitting corrosion to uniform corrosion, as well as the nucleation of stress corrosion crack, is the synergistic effects of the chloride and applied load. Stress corrosion cracking of the steel in the chloride environment can be divided into three different regions as follows: fast and uniform corrosion activity, microcrack nucleation and propagation, and active crack growth regions.