Oxide-Induced Crack Closure: An Explanation for Near-Threshold Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior

The concept of oxide-induced crack closure is utilized to explain the role of gaseous and aqueous environments on corrosion fatigue crack propagationat ultralow, near-threshold growth rates in bainitic and martensitic 2 1/4 Cr-1 Mo pressure vessel steels. It is shown that at low load ratios, near-threshold growth rates are significantly reduced in moist environments (such as air or water), compared to dry environments (such as hydrogen or helium gas), due to the formation of excess corrosion deposits on crack faces which enhances crack closure. Using Auger spectroscopy, it is found that at the threshold stress intensity, ΔK_o, below which cracks appear dormant, the maximum thickness of excess oxide debris within the crack is comparable with the pulsating crack tip opening displacement. The implications of this model to near-threshold fatigue crack growth behavior, in terms of the role of load ratio, environment, and microstructure are discussed.