Abstract
The fracture surface of AISI 304 stainless steel in stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in boiling 42 percent magnesium-chloride (MgCl2) solution was investigated fractographically by scanning electron microscopy. To determine the orientation of fracture surface, etch pits were formed on fracture surface by the electroetching method in 1 N sulfuric acid (H2SO4) + 100 mg/litre ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) solution. It was made clear from morphology of etch pit that fracture surface in SCC was almost everywhere on the {100} plane, namely, the path of the crack was determined by crystal orientation and direction of stress. In addition, a striation-like pattern was often found by careful observation on the flat surface.