PROGRESS ON IMPLEMENTING IGSCC COUNTERMEASURES IN THE UNITED-STATES

Since intergranular stress corrosion cracking (igscc) prompted the first BWR recirculation pipe replacement project in the United States a little less than four years ago, a variety of igscc countermeasures has been implemented at American plants. A sizeable proportion of the welds at America's operating BWRs have now received some form of igscc mitigation treatment. The following measures have been or are being used extensively on operating plants in the United States: replacement with materials resistant to stress corrosion cracking; adoption of hydrogen water chemistry; induction heating stress improvement; and solution heat treatment. This list excludes corrosion resistant cladding, a remedy which has been used extensively only for plants under construction.