Environmentally assisted cracking of 18%Ni maraging steel

Slow strain rate testing of notched cylindrical specimens of 18Ni2400 maraging steel has been carried out in air with 30% relative humidity and synthetic seawater environments. Peak-aged condition has been chosen, considering the relevance to engineering applications. Studies have also been carried out with different notch geometries to understand the effect of stress concentration factor. It is concluded from the study that (i) degree of stress concentration at the notch influences the notched tensile strength (ii) mild hydrogen embrittlement seems to occur in air environment, (iii) synthetic seawater environment drastically brings down the notched tensile strength and time to fracture (iv) environmentally assisted cracking occurs in air tests in quasicleavage and microvoid coalescence modes and in seawater tests in intercrystalline mode. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.