| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Elucidating Microstructural Evolution Under Extreme Environments
|
| Presentation Title |
Mechanisms of Chloride-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Welded Spent Nuclear Fuel Canister Steel |
| Author(s) |
Nathan Todd Gehmlich, Haozheng Qu, Rebecca F Schaller, Mychailo B Toloczko, Janelle P Wharry, Maria A Okuniewski |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Nathan Todd Gehmlich |
| Abstract Scope |
Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canisters made of austenitic stainless steel (SS) type 304L are susceptible to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking at ambient temperatures when atmospheric salts deposit on the seam welds. In order to better understand the process of crack propagation within a SNF canister, accelerated stress corrosion tests were conducted by immersing welded 304L SS in a boiling MgCl2 solution. The corroded and cracked SS specimens were sectioned, and the microstructures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to reveal crack mechanisms. These characterization techniques revealed that most cracks were transgranular in nature, however intergranular cracks were also common. Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed traces of Cl within internal corrosion cavities left behind from arrested cracks, suggesting that environmental and chemical mechanisms govern crack propagation even after the crack initiation phase. Prevalent chemical mechanisms were then revealed with EBSD in multiple cracking areas. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Other, Characterization, Other |