The effects of water radiolysis on the corrosion and stress corrosion behavior of type 316 stainless steel in pure water

In the ITER Conceptual Design Activity, water will be used as coolant for the major reactor components, which will be made of solution-annealed 316 SS. A concern is that the radiolysis products may increase the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of 316 SS. The corrosion and stress corrosion of 316 SS was observed under irradiated and nonirradiated conditions. Gamma irradiation produced a 100 mV potential shift in the active direction, probably from the polarizing effect of reducing radiolysis products. The irradiation also resulted in nearly an order of magnitude increase in the passive current density of 316 SS, probably from increased surface reaction rates involving radiolysis products as well as increased corrosion rates; however the latter was considered insignificant. Computer simulations of pure water radiolysis at 50, 90, and 130 C and dose rates of 10{sup 18}-10{sup 24} were performed; effects of hydrogen, argon, and argon + 20% oxygen deaeration were also studied. Slow strain rate suggest that annealed and sensitized 316 SS was not suscepible to SCC in hydrogen- or argon-deaerated water at 50 C. Modeling of irradiated water chemistry was performed. Open circuit potential of senstizied and annealed 316 SS had a shift of 800 mV in the noble (positive) direction. Steady-state potentials of -0.180 V for sensitized 316 SS wire and -0.096 V vs Hg/HgSO{sub 4} for annealed 316 SS wire were independent of oxygen presence. The -0.180 V shift is likely to promote SCC