Chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking of Duplex stainless steels. Models,test methods and experience

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) induced by chlorides frequently causes problems in applications where standard austenitic stainless steels are being used. Often this problem can be solved by the use of duplex stainless steels. In this report the mechanisms for SCC have been surveyed, and the cause for the high SCC resistance of duplex stainless steels has been discussed and evaluation of test methods for SCC and how duplex stainless steels respond to them, as well as practical experience of duplex stainless steels. The study shows that no single mechanism can be attributed to the good resistance to SCC of duplex stainless steels. Probably a synergistic effect of electrochemical and/or mechanical effects is responsible for the good performance. Test methods for SCC often give relatively good correspondence with real applications, but ranking is often doubtful, and comparisons of different material types should be made with caution. Numerous cases with SCC on standard austenitic stainless steels have been solved by the use of duplex stainless steels.