Pit-to-crack mechanisms of 316LN stainless steel reinforcement in alkaline solution influenced by strain induced martensite

Abstract The pit-to-crack transition of AISI 316LN stainless steel reinforcement exposed to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chlorides contaminated alkaline environment, was studied by a combination of slow strain rate testing (SSRT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The phase angle shift (Δφ) obtained by EIS at low frequencies was utilized to determine the pit-to-crack transition, differentiating from crack nucleation and propagation as identified by shifts in the frequency range of phase angle ( θ ) peaks. The pit-to-crack transition was developed once the maximum θ value shifted from the low to high frequencies. EIS analysis was corroborated by assessment of repassivation rates and pit growth, in addition to calculating $${\Delta G}^{{\rm{\gamma }}\to {\rm{\alpha }}{\rm{\mbox{'}}}}$$ Δ G γ → α ’ . Crack nucleation at lath martensite developed transgranular SCC. Strain-induced martensitic transformation was associated with the brittle failure of AISI 316LN stainless steel, where α’–martensite phase preferentially incubated the pit, and favored crack nucleation, thus promoting pit-to-crack transition.