The intergranular corrosion and stress corrosion cracking of mild steel in clarke's solution

Measurements have been made of the corrosion rates and stress corrosion crack velocities for mild steel exposed to hydrochloric acid containing antimony additions at open circuit and various applied potentials. Cracking occurs within a sharply defined range of potentials, within which markedly slower intergranular corrosion occurs, while general corrosion occurs at potentials above or below those that promote cracking. It is suggested that the role of Sb in the cracking mechanism is essentially the same as the role of oxide films in other environments, of restricting lateral dissolution at the crack sides.     

The role of oxide films in stress corrosion cracking initiation

In the low-potential transition range, passivatable alloys undergo electrolytic crevice corrosion i.e. localized anodic attack at any area prevented from passivating by shielding effects. A possible role of stress in this range may be seen, accordingly, in producing at every film rupture uncontrollable localized attack in critical underfilm crevices at the feet of emerging slip steps. The fundamental condition for s.c.c. would be that the incubation time, i.e. the time of attack required to form a critical notch, must be shorter than the film lifetime. The resulting model for s.c.c. initiation at the active-passive transition fits in with the mostly accepted slip-dissolution mechanism. A simple mathematical treatment is given for such model and applied to three typical systems, that are the combination of steel with K₂CO₃KHCO₃, NaOH and NH₄NO₃ solutions, respectively. Calculated incubation times are consistent with experimental times to rupture and cracking rates from s.c.c. tests.     

The role of oxide films in stress corrosion cracking initiation

In the low-potential transition range, passivatable alloys undergo electrolytic crevice corrosion i.e. localized anodic attack at any area prevented from passivating by shielding effects. A possible role of stress in this range may be seen, accordingly, in producing at every film rupture uncontrollable localized attack in critical underfilm crevices at the feet of emerging slip steps. The fundamental condition for s.c.c. would be that the incubation time, i.e. the time of attack required to form a critical notch, must be shorter than the film lifetime. The resulting model for s.c.c. initiation at the active-passive transition fits in with the mostly accepted slip-dissolution mechanism. A simple mathematical treatment is given for such model and applied to three typical systems, that are the combination of steel with K₂CO₃-KHCO₃, NaOH and NH₄NO₃ solutions, respectively. Calculated incubation times are consistent with experimental times to rupture and cracking rates from s.c.c. tests.     

Role of Bayer solution concentration and temperature in stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of steel

To improve the efficiency of the Bayer process for the extraction of alumina from Bauxite ore, there is a push for increasing processing temperature and caustic concentrations, which has also led to an increased concern for caustic embrittlement. In this study, the caustic cracking behaviour of steel in Bayer solutions of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mol dm⁻³ “free caustic” concentrations have been studied at different temperatures using pre-cracked circumferential notch tensile specimens. It has been observed that at 100 °C, steel is susceptible to caustic cracking in each of the four Bayer solutions. Caustic cracking has also been observed at temperatures as low as 55 °C. Tests were also conducted using only the notched specimens (i.e., without pre-cracking) in a 7.5 mol dm⁻³ “free caustic” Bayer solution at 120 °C to study the stress corrosion crack formation and propagation behaviour in blunt notches.     

The effect of stress on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel in alkaline solutions

The influence of stress, type of aggressive anion and anodic current density on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel in lime water has been studied. Under open circuit condition the passivity of steel in lime water containing low concentrations of C1?, SO₄^2? or S^2? ions was impaired by the application of stress. In the presence of high concentrations of these ions corrosion was enhanced by the application of stress. Sulphide ions were found to be more dangerous than C1- or SO₄^2? ions at the free corrosion potential. With anodic polarization, S^2? ions are inhibitive both in the absence and in presence of stress. In early stages at low current densities, the anodic process was stimulated by the application of stress.     

Intergranular stress corrosion cracking of copper in nitrite solutions

Semi-hard tubes of deoxidized high phosphorous copper with different levels of tangential residual stresses have been exposed to nitrite solutions in a laboratory heating circuit. After characterization of investigated materials influence of temperature, location of heating, concentration of solution, electrochemical potential, and atmosphere on stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of those copper tubes has been investigated. Threshold stress for crack initiation has been determined. Maximum duration of experiments was 1 month. Breakthrough time of tubes has been measured as criterion for susceptibility to SCC.To vary stress level in a wider range constant load tests on tubes with different degrees of cold working (annealed, semi-hard, hard) were done by mounting them in a steel frame.Stress corrosion cracks were always intergranular. A tenorite layer covered surface of cracked copper tubes. A reaction scheme for ammonia formation is presented. Necessary conditions for formation of stress corrosion are shown and critically discussed.Results show that intergranular cracking takes place at much lower stress levels below yield strength when compared to literature data on transgranular cracking above yield strength. For transgranular cracking cross slipping and cleavage formation as cracking mechanism is confirmed while for intergranular cracking chemical dissolution of grain boundaries plays a more important role.     

Anisotropic stress corrosion cracking behaviour of prestressing steel

This paper evaluates the anisotropic stress corrosion cracking behaviour of high-strength prestressing steel wires. To this end, two eutectoid steels in the form of hot rolled bar and cold drawn wire were subjected to stress corrosion cracking tests in aqueous environments using a constant strain technique and precracked three point bend specimens to measure the crack growth rate da/dt as a function of the stress intensity factor K_I under hydrogen embrittlement environmental conditions (pH = 12.5 E = − 1200 mV SCE). While the hot rolled bar presents an isotropic stress corrosion cracking behaviour associated with mode I crack growth, the cold drawn wire exhibits a change in crack propagation direction approaching that of the wire axis (cold drawing direction) and producing mixed mode crack growth. This anisotropic stress corrosion cracking behaviour is a consequence of manufacturing, since cold drawing affects the microstructure of the material and produces a preferential orientation of the pearlite lamellae aligned parallel to the wire axis. The differences of crack growth rate as a function of the crack propagation direction are discussed.     

Role of nitrite addition in chloride stress corrosion cracking of a super duplex stainless steel

This paper presents the role of addition of nitrite ions in susceptibility of a super duplex stainless steel, SAF 2507 to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride environment, which has a particular industrial relevance. Slow strain rate testing (SSRT) in 30 wt.% MgCl₂ solution established SCC susceptibility, as evidenced by post-SSRT fractography. However, the addition of nitrite has interesting influence. At their lower concentrations, nitrite additions seem to decrease SCC susceptibility, whereas, at a higher concentration, it has an accelerating effect on SCC. Attempts have been made to understand this behaviour on the basis of the role of nitrite in passivation and pitting characteristics of SAF 2507 in chloride solution.     

The stress corrosion cracking of admiralty brass in sulphate solutions

The field of occurrence, the severity and the morphology of the stress corrosion cracking (s.c.c.) of Admiralty brass exposed, under open circuit conditions, to sulphate solutions have been determined, as a function of acidity and of Cu²⁺ content, by means of ‘U’-bend and of constant load tests. Depending upon the solution pH, cracking exhibits two different modes: intergranular in strongly acidic solutions and transgranular in a wide range of moderately acidic and in alkaline solutions. The transition in the cracking mode occurs near the borderline conditions of Cu₂O stability; in the same conditions the maximum susceptibility to s.c.c. has been observed. Different roles played by Cu₂O in the nucleation and in the propagation stages of transgranular cracking are discussed.     

The caustic stress corrosion cracking of high-strength steel wire

For an eutectoid steel strengthened to different levels by cold drawing patented rods to 2 mm diameter wires, two potential ranges of susceptibility to high-rate caustic stress corrosion cracking (S.C.C.) were located in the polarization curve. While active path S.C.C. occurs at the active-passive transition, stress cracking via hydrogen embrittlement results at potentials below the anodic dissolution peak. From rupture tests at free corrosion potentials on wire specimens stressed to 80% of the tensile stress the influence of cold working (strength level), heat treatment (stress relieving at 400°C) and environmental chemistry (inhibitor additions) was investigated. Besides the expected increase of susceptibility with strength level, a deleterious effect of stress relieving resulted at all the strength levels tested. Sufficient concentrations of chromate ions succeeded in inhibiting completely S.C.C.     

Passivity breakdown and stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel

Passivity breakdown of stainless steel is an important initial process for starting stress corrosion cracking. It was found that small amount of impurities in environments affects the initiation process, but do not affect the propagation process of SCC. The environmental effect on the initiation process is rationally explained by introducing “bound water model” of passive film and HSAB (Hard and Soft Acid and Base) rule. Background of the issue including bound water model and HSAB rule was discussed.     

The stress corrosion cracking of an austenitic stainless steel in HCl + NaCl solutions at room temperature

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of type AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel was studied in mixed HCl + NaCl solutions at room temperature. Two potential regions of SCC susceptibility were found: one near the open circuit potential, and the other near the pitting potential. The two regions were fused into a single one when the concentration of HCl was reduced. Crack velocities were predicted by the potentiostatic fast strain-rate technique and measured by slow strain-rate tests. A very good correlation was found between the predicted and measured crack velocity values. The cracks were transgranular, and the experimental results showed that an anodic rate controlling step is present in this SCC process.     

Mechanistic study of stress corrosion cracking of carbon steel in ethanol

Mechanistic study of stress corrosion cracking of carbon steel in fuel‐grade ethanol was made using slow strain rate testing and constant tensile load testing at yield strength stress level of the steels. Characterization of the fracture surface was made using SEM and SEM–EDS. Selective dissolution of ferrite from pearlite phase was observed. Crack initiation took place preferably from pearlite phase. Corroded zones consisting of crystallographic pits were found from fracture surfaces.     

Inhibition of steel corrosion by calcium benzoate adsorption in nitrate solutions

The inhibitive properties of calcium benzoate for steel corrosion were studied in sodium nitrate solutions at room temperature. Corrosion parameters of the steel/nitrate and steel/benzoate + nitrate interfaces were obtained from polarisation curves. Adsorption parameters of benzoate on steel in sodium nitrate solutions were determined through changes in the degree of surface coverage by the inhibitor, as a function of concentration, time and adsorption potential. The effect of chloride on the corrosion inhibition of benzoate was analysed exposing the metal in different chloride solution concentrations.     

On the resistance of duplex steel to stress corrosion cracking

The paper gives the results of tests carried out into the stress corrosion cracking in duplex stainless steel (Type 02Cr22Ni5Mo3N, W.Nr. 1.4462); this grade is characterized by high resistance to intergranular corrosion, while resistance to stress corrosion cracking may be impaired by temperature and mode of loading. This behaviour requires special attention. The tests included testing in 35% MgCl₂ solution under constant load at 120°C, the drop evaporation test using a 0.1 mol · 1^? NaCl solution and the slow strain rate test in 35% MgCl₂ solution at 120°C.     

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.     

The inhibition of stress corrosion cracking of stainless steels in chloride solutions

The inhibition of s.c.c. n AISI 316S stainless steel in 2N HCl by aromatic and heterocyclic substances has been studied. The evaluation of the inhibitors in reducing the s.c.c. of U-bend specimens has been carried out by micrographic measurements.The determination of anodic and cathooic polarization curves shows that the inhibiting action on s.c.c. is related to the effect of the organic compounds on the anodic dissolution process of the metal. An interpretation of s.c.c. in the chloride solutions is hypothesized involving an adsorbed layer of chloride ions. Tests performed with scratched electrodes seem to confirm the proposed interpretation.     

Carbonyl compounds as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in HCl solutions

The paper gives an account of the performance of a number of carbonyl compounds as corrosion inhibitors of mild steel in 1–6 N solutions of hydrochloric acid. Furfuraldehyde seems to be the best inhibitor of all the carbonyl compounds investigated. Activation energies in the presence and absence of inhibitors have been evaluated. In cathodic protection studies furfuraldehyde reduces the protective current density considerably. The difference effect is positive in the absence and presence of inhibitors. Galvanostatic polarization data indicate that all these compounds are predominantly cathodic inhibitors. These substances are more effective in preventing the corrosion of aluminium alloys in hydrochloric acid solutions than the corrosion of mild steel.     

X70级管线钢抗硫化物应力腐蚀开裂实验研究

用三点弯曲方法及SEM?TEM等手段研究了不同组织类型的X70级管线钢硫化物应力腐蚀开裂(SSCC)行为?结果表明,显微组织以均匀细小的针状铁素体为主的管线钢具有优良的抗SSCC性能;这主要是源于针状铁素体内高密度缠结的位错和碳氮化物在位错网络上的沉淀析出起到了强烈的氢陷阱作用?