Determination of the Microstructure Parameters Which Control Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking

This paper outlines an approach for investigating the aspects of mechanical deformation which are relevant to intergranular stress corrosion cracking. Mechanical testing, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and optical microscopy are used to investigate the difference in mechanical behavior between solutionized, lightly sensitized (1 hour at 600 C), and heavily sensitized (50 hours at 600 C) tested at ambient and elevated temperature, respectively. Additionally, the difference in mechanical behavior at room temperature and elevated temperatures is characterized. Slip trace analysis revealed statistically significant variation in slip distribution due to sensitization but indicated no change due to temperature. In addition, sensitization resulted in qualitative changes in the grain boundary sliding behavior. This work has developed an experimental method for analyzing the deformation behavior which can be employed for further research.