Role of environmental variables on the stress corrosion cracking of sensitized AISI type 304 stainless steel (SS304) in thiosulfate solutions

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of sensitized AISI type 304 stainless steel (SS304) has been studied in dilute thiosulfate solutions as a function of thiosulfate concentrations and applied potentials. The susceptibility to SCC was observed to increase with thiosulfate concentrations and applied potentials. The addition of boric acid produced the reverse effect. A critical potential was found to exist, below which no SCC took place. Potential fluctuations, as recorded in the tests under open circuit conditions, appeared to be correlated with crack initiation and propagation during SCC. Current fluctuations observed in the controlled potential tests also gave indications of crack nucleation; however, at higher applied potentials such fluctuations were absent. The formation and presence of martensite in the specimens seemed to have a minor role in the overall SCC process. The aggressiveness of the thiosulfate concentration was also an important factor in determining the degree of susceptibility to SCC. The results obtained in the slow strain rate tests under open circuit as well as under potential-controlled conditions suggested a film ruptureanodic dissolution type of mechanism operative during SCC of sensitized SS304 in thiosulfate solutions.     

表面喷丸压力对304不锈钢应力腐蚀敏感性的影响

采用3种表面喷丸压力对304不锈钢板状试样进行强化处理。通过扫描电子显微镜分析了强化层的厚度和晶粒细化程度,采用显微硬度计检测了表层显微硬度分布。通过5%NaCl溶液中慢应变速率拉伸试验,比较了0.25、0.30和0.40 MPa喷丸压力处理后试样的应力腐蚀敏感性。结果表明：表面喷丸强化处理可以细化试样表层晶粒,提高硬度;随着喷丸压力的升高,试样表层晶粒层厚度增大,表面硬度提高,应力腐蚀敏感性指数降低。     

激光喷丸与机械喷丸对304不锈钢应力腐蚀性能的影响

对304不锈钢板试样分别进行了激光喷丸与机械喷丸处理,采用X射线衍射仪分析了表层显微组织和晶粒尺寸的变化,通过慢应变速率拉伸腐蚀试验检测了应力腐蚀敏感性。结果表明,通过激光喷丸处理,表层晶粒得到了细化,但没有产生明显的马氏体相变,随着喷丸能量密度增大,应力腐蚀敏感性减小;而通过机械喷丸处理的试样,晶粒细化的同时诱发了明显的马氏体相变,随着喷丸压力升高,应力腐蚀敏感性呈现先减小后增大的变化趋势。     

A probe into low-temperature stress corrosion cracking of 304L stainless steel by scanning vibrating electrode technique

Scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) that is a reliable method for local measuring of electrochemical potential at the sample surface is used to study stress corrosion cracking of 304L stainless steel in 0.1?M NaCl+HCl solution at room temperature. SVET maps showed a periodic emergence and receding as well as a forward mobility of an active anodic front. This behaviour could indicate a step-wise and discontinuous crack propagation mechanism. SEM images revealed the presence of a side crack adjacent to the main crack which confirms the presence of an expanded anodic front in SVET maps.     

In-service stress corrosion cracking of AISI 316L stainless steel in an H2S environment

Since publication of ANSI/NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 in 2003 there has been much debate on the performance of austenitic stainless steels in oil and gas production environments, with researchers recommending relaxation of the ISO 15156 restrictions for this material. This paper describes a recent austenitic stainless steel stress corrosion cracking failure and discusses its implications for the current restrictions of the ISO standard and recently proposed relaxations of these restrictions.     

Stress corrosion cracking of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel in thiosulphate solution. II. Dynamics of fracture

This work focuses on the study of noise (EN) in the coupling current that is generated during stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel (304SS) in thiosulphate solution. The noise was acquired under open circuit conditions using a zero-resistance ammeter to monitor the coupling current that flows from the crack in an insulated compact tension (CT) specimen to external cathodes. The time record is transformed to the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform algorithm and wavelet analysis; the wavelet analysis proved to be of greater facility in determining the frequency values at which the fracture events occur. The mechanism proposed to explain the behaviour of the noise is hydrogen-induced fracture (HIF), in which the entry of hydrogen into the matrix ahead of the crack tip is catalyzed by adsorbed sulfur. Additionally, it was found that a 0.5 M sodium thiosulphate solution is capable of initiating and propagating the localized corrosion process under unloaded conditions and that the effect of the load is, simply, to increase the rate with which the process occurs.     

堆内构件304L焊接件在除氧和氯离子环境中的应力腐蚀开裂研究

采用高温高压慢应变速率拉伸试验方法(SSRT),研究了在除氧环境下不同浓度氯离子对304L焊接件在模拟一回路高温高压硼锂水介质中氯致应力腐蚀开裂的影响。结果表明:当氯离子浓度为1 mg/L时,其各项力学性能指标与惰性氮气空白样一致,表明在低浓度氯离子除氧条件下,304L焊接件没有应力腐蚀敏感性。随着氯离子含量(1~50mg/L)的增加,304L焊接件应力腐蚀敏感指数变化呈增加趋势。断口侧面没有观察到明显的裂纹,氯离子浓度越低,断口缩颈现象越明显,表明主要是机械断裂。氯离子浓度较高时,棱角部分出现微裂纹源,可能与棱角部分应力更为集中相关。所有样品的断裂位置都在焊缝和热影响区,在焊缝和热影响区发生了巨大的形变,离断口越近,变形越严重。焊接部位是304L堆内构件中薄弱环节,应该成为应力腐蚀开裂和其他性能检测的重点部位。     

低温冷却对AISI 304不锈钢铣削加工的影响

研究低温冷却对AISI304不锈钢铣削加工的影响。用内径为1mm的管子来喷淋液氮到铣刀、削口和材料界面起到低温冷却的作用。液氮的流量为5.2L/min;采用顺铣和逆铣2个铣削方向、干铣和低温冷却2种方式和80、120、160和200m/min 4种铣削速度。结果表明：低温冷却和铣削速度对切削力有影响;低温冷却过程中的切削力和扭矩比干铣过程中的高;切削力随着铣削速度的加快而增大。进入铣刀半径范围内的削屑影响低速顺铣的效果。     

Effect of surface polishing on SCC susceptibility of sensitised type 304 stainless steel

Abstract

The effect of surface polishing on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of sensitised SUS 304 stainless steel was studied by using the well controlled surface polishing method which has been developed for the surface preparation of the semiconductor material. The SCC susceptibility of the polished specimen was examined by using the slow strain rate testing method, at which the specimen was kept at a constant potential in 0·1M Na₂SO₄ solution kept at 368 K. The most effective suppression effect on the SCC susceptibility was found in the case of surface polishing using alumina slurry, followed by water soluble fullerene and diamond slurry, compared with the mechanical polishing with #0/6 paper. Surface roughness and pitting potential of polished surface were compared with the SCC susceptibility of polished sensitised SUS 304 stainless steel. It was found that the SCC susceptibility was decided mainly by the roughness factor rather than pitting resistance. Experimental evidences suggest that the SCC susceptibility was decided by the crack initiation being controlled by surface roughness.     

Ability of acoustic emission technique for detection and monitoring of crevice corrosion on 304L austenitic stainless steel

This experimental work was aimed at investigating the ability of acoustic emission (AE) technique for detection and monitoring of crevice corrosion on 304L austenitic stainless steel. Crevice initiation, propagation and repassivation was controlled by additions of hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid and by the extent of the applied torque of crevice assembly, in the presence of chloride ions. The simultaneous measurements of corrosion potential of the specimen and AE global activity during the test, as well as the characterization of acoustic parameters of AE signals, evidences a good correlation between potential and AE activity fluctuations, AE rate and amplitude of crevice damage in terms of weight loss and metallic surface affected, in each tested experimental condition. Moreover, the evolution of cumulative% of AE signals number versus selected acoustic parameters shows that rise time, counts number, duration and cumulative energy of AE signals are affected by crevice development. Finally, visualization of crevice initiation and propagation during the test allows to propose that bubbles formation from cathodic reactions within the crevice is the emissive mechanism.     

残余应力对Super304H焊缝金属再热裂纹敏感性的影响

采用预压缩CT试样的方法研究了残余应力对Super304H奥氏体不锈钢焊缝金属再热裂纹敏感性的影响。通过ABAQUS模拟结合EBSD表征分析了不同残余应力下的焊缝金属的塑性应变分布和位错密度分布,并从残余应力诱导焊缝金属晶内析出相的方面解释了残余应力对焊缝金属再热裂纹敏感性的影响。结果表明：高预压缩载荷的CT试样具有更高的残余应力,更容易产生再热裂纹。随着残余应力的增加,焊缝金属拉伸试样的抗拉强度逐渐降低。焊缝金属CT试样靠近U型口的高残余应力区域具有更高的位错密度和更高比例的亚晶,促进了晶内小颗粒相的析出,使得晶内硬化更为严重,再热裂纹更容易产生。     

Effect of weld metal chemistry on stress corrosion cracking behavior of AISI 444 ferritic stainless steel weldments in boiling chloride solution

The influence of the weld metal chemistry on the susceptibility of AISI 444 ferritic stainless steel (FSS) weldment to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in hot chloride was investigated by constant load tests and metallographic examination. Two types of filler metal of austenitic stainless steel (E316L and E309L) were used in order to produce fusion zones of different chemical compositions. The SCC test results showed that the interface between the fusion zone (FZ) and the heat affected zone (HAZ) was the most susceptible region to SCC. Results also showed that the AISI 444 stainless steel weldment with E309L weld metal presented the best SSC resistance. Microstructural examinations indicated that the cracks initiated in the weld metal and propagated to the HAZ of the AISI 444 FSS, where the fracture occurred and it was observed a considerable amount of precipitates. Additionally, the higher SCC resistance of the AISI 444 FSS weldment with E309L weld metal may be attributed to the presence of a discontinuous delta‐ferrite network in its microstructure, which acted as a barrier to cracks propagation from the fusion zone to the HAZ/fusion zone interface of AISI 444 FSS. Fractrography analyses showed that the transgranular quasi‐cleavage fracture mode was predominant in the AISI 444 weldment with E316L weld metal and the mixed fracture mode was the predominant in the AISI 444 weldment with E309L weld metal.     

Improvement of pitting corrosion resistance of AISI 444 stainless steel to make it a possible substitute for AISI 304L and 316L in hot natural waters

The pitting corrosion resistance of AISI 444, 304L and 316L stainless steels in two tap waters with different chloride concentrations at 80 °C was studied. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) tests were carried out starting from E_corr ? 30 mV until the current density reached 0.1 mA/cm² (scan rate 0.166 mV/s); the scan was then reversed and continued until new passivity conditions were achieved. The corrosion potential was measured before the polarization experiments. From the E‐log i plots, the values of pitting and protection potential were obtained; from these potentials, the perfect and the imperfect passivity regions were defined to compare the corrosion resistance of the studied steels. CPP tests were performed both on as received stainless steel samples and on samples submitted to different cleaning–passivation treatments to improve their corrosion resistance. The results indicate that, for industrial production, AISI 444 stainless steel can substitute the more expensive AISI 304L or 316L after a cleaning–passivation treatment that reduces the presence of inclusions.

     

NaCl溶液中304不锈钢腐蚀过程的声发射特征

采用声发射技术研究了304不锈钢在0.01和0.05 mol·L-1Na Cl溶液中的腐蚀过程,应用光学显微镜观察了腐蚀前后试样表面形貌。结果表明,0.01和0.05 mol·L-1浓度下,304不锈钢腐蚀产生的声发射起始幅度不同,随时间延长,声发射幅度阶跃,直至达到最终的稳定幅度,这说明随浸泡时间延长,试样腐蚀程度加深。浸泡初期,声发射相对能量较高,声发射相对能量随浸泡时间延长而降低,但仍具有比较明显的相对能量积聚区,0.05 mol·L-1浓度时更为明显,同时其振铃数聚类区多于0.01 mol·L-1。浸泡4 h后,试样表面发生了晶间腐蚀和点蚀。相比0.01 mol·L-1浓度,0.05 mol·L-1下试样表面点蚀数量增多、点蚀孔尺寸增大。     

Impedance investigation of thermally formed oxide films on AISI 304L stainless steel

Thin oxide layers on 304L stainless steel were grown by thermal oxidation at 300 °C at different durations ranging from 2 to 4 h. The structural characterization of the oxide films was carried out by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the effects of exposure time and applied potential on the electronic properties of these films. Oxide films are described by a multilayer structure, with n-type iron oxide and oxyhydroxide in the outer layers and p-type chromium oxide in the inner layer. Doping densities evaluated from Mott-Schottky plots increased with the oxidation duration, with characteristics of highly disordered semiconductor.     

Inhibition effect of metal cations to intergranular stress corrosion cracking of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel

Inhibition effect of metal cation to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel has been investigated by slow strain rate technique (SSRT) with a dynamic crack observation system. The SCC tests were conducted in fully-deaerated aqueous solutions containing various metal sulfates of 10⁻⁵ kmol/m³ at 95 °C. Metal cations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were selected in this study, and were characterized by a hardness based on the hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) concept. As a result, it was found that a hard metal cation in the test solution increased crack initiation time and decreased mean crack initiation frequency. In other words, metal cations with larger hardness have an ability of suppressing initiation process of the IGSCC. On the other hand, apparent mean crack velocity was independent of the hardness of metal cation. The finding that the metal cations with large hardness inhibit initiation of the IGSCC was able to be rationally explained on the basis of the passive film model combined with the HSAB concept.     

Influence of peening on the corrosion properties of AISI 304 stainless steel

The effects of peening treatment on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of AISI 304SS were investigated. Shot and ultrasonic peening were performed on the austenitic stainless steel, and peened specimens were compared in terms of microstructure, surface roughness and corrosion resistance. Nano-sized grains, multi-directional mechanical twins and strain-induced martensite were formed on the surfaces, and the volume fraction of strain-induced martensite in the ultrasonically peened specimen was higher than that of the shot-peened specimen. The ultrasonically peened specimen which had smoother surface and contained more strain-induced martensite showed superior general and localized corrosion resistance to the as-received and shot-peened specimens.     

Determination of susceptibility to intergranular corrosion and electrochemical reactivation behaviour of AISI 316L type stainless steel

In this study, double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DLEPR) test was applied to determine the degree of sensitization in 316L type stainless steel, where obtained results were correlated with revealed microstructures after oxalic acid test and weight loss measurements of Streicher and Huey acid tests. Best agreement was provided with test parameters which are 1 M H₂SO₄ and 0.005 M KSCN at 0.833 mV/s scan rate at 30 °C. Specimens were classified structurally as absence of chromium carbides - step, no single grain completely surrounded by carbides - dual and one or more grain completely surrounded by carbides - ditch, in the as-etched structure, if the I_r:I_a (×100) ratios were obtained to be between 0 and 0.2, 0.2 and 5.0 and 5.0 and higher, respectively. It was also found that at high KSCN concentrations, reactivation current profile skewed to higher potentials where this was attributed the formation of metastable pits, during the anodic scan of the test procedure.