Steels stress-corrosion, practical

In spite of the possibility of cathodic corrosion discussed in relation to Eq. (2-56), practical experience has shown that carbon steel is a suitable material for impressed current cathodes. Stress corrosion of the cathode material does not have to be considered because of the strong cathodic polarization as shown in Fig. 2-18. 

In practice, by far the most common case of stress corrosion is that occurring when austenitic stainless steels are simultaneously exposed to tensile stresses and hot, aqueous, aerated, chloride-containing environments. In this case the major variable is alloy composition and structure virtually all austenitic stainless steels are more or less susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking in these environments, while ferritic and ferritic/austenitic stainless steels are highly resistant or immune. 

Stress relief is of little practical value as a means of preventing stress-corrosion cracking in austenitic steels, as cracking occurs at quite low stress levels even in fully softened material and it is difflcult to ensure that stresses are reduced to a safe level in a real structure. The technique can however be useful in small items but, even in this case, phase changes which reduce stress-corrosion resistance or have other deleterious effects can occur at the stress relieving temperature. 

Practice for making and using U-bend stress corrosion test specimens Recommended practice for laboratory immersion corrosion testing of metals Method for vibratory cavitation erosion test Practice for recording data from atmospheric corrosion tests of metallic-coated steel specimens... 

Recommended practice for examination and evaluation of pitting corrosion Test method for determining susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking of high-strength aluminium alloy products Test method for pitting and crevice corrosion resistance of stainless steels and related alloys by the use of ferric chloride solution Recommended practice for preparation and use of direct tension stress corrosion test specimens... 

H. Spaehn, Stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue of martensitic, ferritic, and ferritic-austenitic (duplex) stainless steel, in P. Marcus, J. Oudar (Eds.), Corrosions Mechanisms in Theory and Practice, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1995, pp. 449-487... 

Stress-corrosion cracking of steel was first encountered in a practical way in riveted steam boilers. Stresses at rivets always exceed the elastic Unfit, and boiler waters are normally treated with alkalies to minimize corrosion. Crevices between rivets and boiler plate allow boiler water to concentrate, until the concentration of alkali suffices to induce S.C.C., sometimes accompanied by explosion of the boiler. Because alkalies were recognized as one of the causes, failures of this kind were first called caustic embrittlement. With the advent of welded boilers and with improved boiler-water treatment, S.C.C. of boilers has become less common. Its occurrence has not been eliminated entirely, however, because significant stresses, for example, may be established at welded sections of boilers or in tanks used for storing concentrated alkalies. 

In practice, inhibitors are often defined according to their field of application. In aqueous environments, inhibitors for acid environments are typically used to minimize metal corrosion during pickling of steel, an operation that removes oxide scales by dissolution in an acid. In the petroleum industry, large quantities of inhibitors for acid environments are used to avoid corrosion of drilling equipment. Inhibitors for neutral environments are used above all for the protection of cooling-water circuits. Inhibitors not only reduce the rate of uniform corrosion, but they also serve to protect metals from localized corrosion and stress corrosion cracking [18]. 

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