Corrosion embrittlement

As the large scale commercial use of hydrogen fluoride is now well established, particularly in the petroleum industry, the techniques of the use of large size equipment is well known. Reports are available on various aspects of industrial use. A book has been published with particular reference to paraffin alkylation (Phillips Petroleum Company, 13). Corrosion, instrumentation, materials of construction, safety measures, etc., are included. The following journal articles also contain material of interest on large scale technique (Holmberg and Prange, 17, Frey, 18, Fehr, 19). There are certain features that need to be watched, such as corrosion, embrittlement, etc., but the above references deal with these subjects. Corrosion is not particularly serious in properly constructed equipment except where air enters. 

CORROSION EMBRITTLEMENT. The or loss of ductility of metals due to corrosion, usually as a result oF intergranular embrittlement attack, which may not readily be visible. 

Caustic embrittlement is the development of brittleness iit metals such as steel or ferrous alloys, upon prolonged exposure to alkaline substances, like caustic soda, in solution. Failures and explosions in boilers and evaporators have been caused by this action. Effective water treatment essentially has eliminated this condition in boilers. See also Corrosion Embrittlement. 

In selecting metals and alloys as materials of construction, one must have knowledge of how materials fail, for example is, how they corrode, become brittle with low-temperature operation, or degrade as a result of operating at high temperatures. Corrosion, embrittlement, and other degradation mechanisms such as creep will be described in terms of their threshold values. Transient or upset operating conditions are common causes of failure. Examples include start-ups and shutdowns, loss of coolant, the formation of dew point water, and hot spots due to the formation of scale deposits on heat transfer surfaces. Identification and documentation of all anticipated upset and transient conditions are required. 

CORROSION, EMBRITTLEMENT - The severe loss of ductility of a metal resulting from corrosive attack, usually intergranular and often not visible. 

Consideration of the chemical compatibility of radioactive contents with packaging materials and between different materials of the components of the packagings should take into account such effects as corrosion, embrittlement, accelerated ageing and dissolution of elastomers and elastics, contamination with dissolved material, initiation of polymerization, pyrolysis producing gases and alterations of a chemical nature. 

Rawdon H.S., Corrosion embrittlement of duralumin. Practical aspects of problems, US National Advisory Commision of Aeronautics, technical note No. 285, 1928, p. 1-11. 

Severe loss of ductility of a metal (or alloy) loss of load carrying capacity of a metal or alloy the severe loss of ductility or toughness or both, of a material, usually a metal or alloy. Many forms of embrittlement can lead to brittle fracture and many can occur during thermal treatment or elevated-temperature service (thermally induced embrittlement). Some of these forms of embrittlement, which affect steels, include blue brittleness, 885 °F (475 °C) embrittlement, quench-age embrittlement, sigma-phase embrittlement, strain-age embrittlement, temper embrittlement, tempered martensite embrittlement, and thermal embrittlement. In addition, steels and other metals and alloys can be embrittled by environmental conditions (environmentally assisted embrittlement). Forms of environmental embrittlement include acid embrittlement, caustic embrittlement, corrosion embrittlement, creep-rupture embrittlement, hydrogen embrittlement, bquid metal embrittlement, neutron embrittlement, solder embrittlement, sobd metal embrittlement, and stress-corrosion cracking. 

Gibala R and Hehemann R F (eds) 1984 Hydrogen Embrittlement and Stress Corrosion Craoking (Metals Park, OH American Soceity of Metals)... 

Properties. Most of the alloys developed to date were intended for service as fuel cladding and other stmctural components in hquid-metal-cooled fast-breeder reactors. AHoy selection was based primarily on the following criteria corrosion resistance in Hquid metals, including lithium, sodium, and NaK, and a mixture of sodium and potassium strength ductihty, including fabricabihty and neutron considerations, including low absorption of fast neutrons as well as irradiation embrittlement and dimensional-variation effects. Alloys of greatest interest include V 80, Cr 15, Ti 5... 

This results in the prevention of caustic buildup beneath deposits or within a crevice where leakage is occurring. Caustic corrosion (and caustic embrittlement, discussed later) does not occur, because high caustic concentrations do not develop. 

Tantalum. Above 300°C (570°F), the possibihty of reactivity of tantalum with all gases except the inert gases. Below 300°C (570°F), the possibility of embrittlement of tantalum by nascent (monatomic) hydrogen (but not molecular hydrogen). Nascent hydrogen is produced by galvanic action or as a product of corrosion by certain chemicals. 

Aluminum is not embrittled by low temperatures and is not subject to external corrosion when exposed to normal atmospheres. At 200°C (400°F) its strength is less than half that at room temperature. It is attacked by alkahes, by traces of copper, nickel, mercuiy, and other heaw-metal ions, and by prolonged contact with wet insiilation. It suffers from galvanic corrosion when coupled to copper, nickel, or lead-... 

Virtuallv evety alloy system has its specific environment conditions which will prodiice stress-corrosion cracking, and the time of exposure required to produce failure will vary from minutes to years. Typical examples include cracking of cold-formed brass in ammonia environments, cracking of austenitic stainless steels in the presence of chlorides, cracking of Monel in hydrofluosihcic acid, and caustic embrittlement cracking of steel in caustic solutions. 

An interesting field of application is the protection of tantalum against hydrogen embrittlement by electrical connection to platinum metals. The reduction in hydrogen overvoltage and the shift of the free corrosion potential to more positive values apparently leads to a reduced coverage by adsorbed hydrogen and thereby lower absorption [43] (see Sections 2.1 and 2.3.4). 

Aikaiinity Bicarbonate (HCOs" ), carbonate (COs , and hydroxyl (OH ), expressed as CaCOs Foaming and carryover of solids with steam embrittlement of boiler steel bicarbonate and carbonate produce CO2 in steam, a source of corrosion Lime and lime-soda softening, acid treatment, hydrogen zeolite softening, demineralization, dealkalization by anion exchange, distillation, degasifying... 

Embrittlement embrittlement and for improperly heat treated steel, both of which give intergranular cracks. (Intercrystalline penetration by molten metals is also considered SCC). Other steels in caustic nitrates and some chloride solutions. Brass in aqueous ammonia and sulfur dioxide. physical environments. bases of small corrosion pits, and cracks form with vicious circle of additional corrosion and further crack propagation until failure occurs. Stresses may be dynamic, static, or residual. stress relieve susceptible materials. Consider the new superaustenitic stainless steels. 

Caustic Embrittlement—a form of stress corrosion cracking that occurs in steel exposed to alkaline solutions. 

The main use of this type steel is for situations in which the process material may not be corrosive to mild steel, yet contamination due to rusting is not tolerable and temperatures or conditions are unsuitable for aluminum. However, prolonged use of these steels in the temperature range of 450 to 550°C causes low-temperature embrittlement of most ferritic steels with more than 12% chromium [16]. 

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