Official Answer
Answer
SCC in 302SS wave springs is characterized by brittle-like transgranular or intergranular cracking, often with little to no visible macroscopic deformation. Under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the fracture surface will show 'branching' cracks—a hallmark of SCC. This occurs due to the combined effect of tensile stress (at the wave peaks) and a corrosive medium (chlorides from seawater). In marine environments, the 'crevices' formed where the waves touch are particularly vulnerable as they trap salt. To solve this, 316SS is often used for its molybdenum content which resists pitting, or for even higher performance, MP35N or Inconel 625 is utilized.
