Fatigue crack growth testing and measurement of fracture toughness with single edge notch tension (SENT) specimens of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 301L-MT stainless steel were performed in the air, distilled water, and 3.5% and 9% NaCl solutions. Type 301L-MT steel exhibited the same resistance to corrosion for various environments in near-threshold region. The crack growth in the Paris region could be accelerated in a [Cl] containing environment by decreasing the threshold of stress corrosion KISCC, but independent of [Cl] concentration. When specimens were fatigue precracked in different conditions, it was found that the fracture toughness of SENT specimens in the aqueous environment decreased 23% to 30% compared with that in the air. The normalized formula was established to describe the behavior of fatigue crack propagation of type 301L-MT steel. Three parameters, ΔKthcf, β, and JIQ, were used to clarify the effect of H-embrittlement mechanism on fatigue crack propagation.

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