Abstract
Annealed, sensitized, and cold worked less stable 304 austenitic stainless steel and more stable 310 austenitic stainless steel in annealed condition were cathodically charged in 1N H2 SO4 with addition of Na AsO2 at a current density of 0.4 mA/cm2 while undergoing tensile strain over a wide range of crosshead speeds ( 833.3 nm/s to 9.8 nm/s) at room temperature.
Fracture surface of 304 austenitic stainless steel specimens exhibited both cleavage and intergranular fracture at low crosshead speeds of 83.3 nm/s and 9.8 nm/s. The extent of intergranular fracture was observed to increase with lowering in crosshead speed. Similar features were observed when cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel specimens tested at the same condition. However, the extent of intergranular fracture was less compared to the non cold worked specimens.
Fracture surface of sensitized 304 austenitic stainless steel specimens exhibited different surface morphology and was found to depend on the sensitization time and the applied crosshead speed.
Both intergranular and quasi cleavage types of fracture modes were observed when stable 310 austenitic stainless steel specimens tested at the lowest crosshead speed of 9.8 mm/s.