Abstract:
The objective of this research was to study the strain rate damage mechanism of 304 stainless steel by using the slow strain rate tensile test in a range of 4.00 x10⁻⁷ to 1.10 x 10⁻⁴ sec⁻1 in solutions containing either NaCl or Na₂S₂O₂ 5H₂O and H₂SO₄ at ambient temperature. Investigation of specimens surface using scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that crack size and density closely related to mechanical properties, and can be use to describe the damage caused by strain rate. At critical strain rate, specimens are highly embrittled as a result of interaction between the rupture film, the passivation of film, and corrosion rate at rupture area as described by Gerber and Garud model, which D=∫(superscript t)(subscript 0) A[Ɛ] (superscript p) dt. Stress Corrosion Cracking resulted from the interaction of an aggressive environment and strain rate showed p-value smaller than 1, p˂1, while specimens which failed mechanically show p~1. The p-value of lower than 1 demonstrates good correlation with the chromium-carbide linkage at grain boundaries at different level of sensitization. It can be concluded that the p-value can be used as an index to indicate the level of sensitization and may be adopted as a method for sensitization tool.