Stress Corrosion Cracking of Type 422 Stainless Steel for Applications in Spallation-Neutron-Target Systems

Introduction • This research program is aimed at evaluating different types of environment-induced degradation of candidate target materials for applications in transmutation of spent nuclear fuels (SNF). • Transmutation refers to the elimination of long-lived actinides and fission products from SNF. Objectives • Evaluate susceptibility of candidate target materials to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and localized corrosion (pitting and crevice) in neutral and acidic aqueous environments at ambient and elevated temperatures • Determine the extent and morphology of cracking in tested materials as functions of experimental and environmental variables including pH, temperature, loading conditions and specimen geometry • Develop mechanistic understanding of degradations based on the experimental dat