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Optical microscopy Scanning electron microscopy
a) Failed component (b) Grain-boundary attack (500X unetched) (c) Intergranular attack
ments, it may be necessary to choose a material that will experi- this can lead to another form of corrosion due to environmental
ence some general corrosion since general corrosion is visually stress cracking in the form of liquid metal embrittlement (LME) or
evident, and, with proper preventative maintenance, general a related failure mode, solid metal induced embrittlement (SMIE).
corrosion can be seen and components replaced as necessary. Therefore, appropriate cautions must be taken.
On the other hand, SCC is rarely visually apparent and often In addition to SCC, other forms of embrittlement include: (a)
occurs without warning (Fig. 2). When it does, a catastrophic environmentally induced cracking due to such factors as cold work
failure often follows. (i.e. residual stress), welding, grinding, thermal treatment or ser-
Other methods include removing the corrosive environment vice conditions; (b) hydrogen embrittlement from plating, weld-
or changing the manufacturing process or design to reduce the ing, cathodic protection and as a by-product of general corrosion;
tensile stresses. A combination of good design, careful selection of (c) corrosion fatigue; and (d) liquid-metal embrittlement.
stress corrosion-resistant grades (e.g., stainless steel) and effective
management, including maintenance and inspection, all can ef- In Conclusion
fectively control corrosion. Specic steps can be taken to prevent Careful consideration of the factors discussed above as well as
the onset of SCC and minimize its consequences when it does taking the time to understand how and where a component will
occur by: be used in service can help minimize stress corrosion cracking in
Consideration of the potential for SCC during the design and most applications. IH
fabrication of components
Selection of appropriate material grades References:
Maintaining a chemical balance of the environment 1. Naumann, Friedrich Karl, Failure Analysis: Case Histories and
Ensuring that the potential for (organic or inorganic) contami- Methodology, Dr. Riederer-Verlag GmbH, 183.
nation is minimized 2. Mr. Alan Stone, Aston Metallurgical Services Company, Inc. (www.
Maintaining proper environmental conditions (e.g., air quality) astonmet.com), private correspondence.
Regular inspections of components for signs of corrosion and 3. Reilly, Peter, Swimming in the Dangerous Waters of Stress Corrosion,
SCC Roof Consultant (www.roofconsultant.co.uk)
4. Spence, Thomas, Selecting the Right Fastener, Materials Newsletter,
Importance of Material Selection Flowserve (www.owserve.com).
In many applications, austenitic stainless steel fasteners (e.g., 5. Fastenal (www.fastenal.com)
ASTM A193 grade B8) of 304 and 316 stainless steels provide good 6. www.corrosion-club.com
general corrosion resistance and are commonly requested. How- 7. Corrosion Doctors (corrosion-doctors.org)
ever, in marine environments where stainless steel would seem 8. ASTM International (www.astm.org)
to be the logical choice, alloy-steel fasteners are preferred due to
SCC concerns. Chlorides, uorides and other halogens are known
catalysts for chloride SCC. In order to reduce their susceptibility Use this Mobile Tag to go to
to general corrosion, alloy-steel fasteners such as grade B7 are usu- Dan's Experts Speak blog
ally provided with some type of protective coating (e.g., zinc or for more SCC information.
cadmium plating). However, the designer must still be aware that
24 October 2011 - IndustrialHeating.com