Experiments were conducted to explain unexpected embrittlement phenomena encountered in fabricating a high purity Fe-30Cr-2Mo alloy. By means of a hydrostatic tensile test with a Bridgman-Type specimen it was found that the fracture behaviour of the alloy is highly dependent on stress state. Under conditions of low triaxial stress, the alloy displays excellent ductility. Under conditions of high triaxial stress, however, the alloy shows less strain to fracture and a transition from ductile to cleavage fracture. The toughness of the Fe-30Cr-2Mo alloy can be significantly improved by thermomechanical processing
