What is stress corrosion cracking?
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a phenomenon where the combination of tensile stress and a corrosive environment leads to the formation of cracks in a material. It typically occurs in metals and alloys and can weaken structural integrity. SCC is often found in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing and nuclear power. The cracking process is influenced by factors such as material composition, applied stress levels, and the specific corrosive environment present.
News on stress corrosion cracking
Below you can find a selection of news and articles related to stress corrosion cracking in stainless steels. If you wish to contribute with your case study on stress corrosion cracking, please contact the Stainless Steel World editor
Sandvik has won a contract to supply seamless coiled tubing made from its SAF 2507®super duplex stainless steel to a geothermal plant in Central America.
While the past eighteen months have seen many challenges for all companies, the Sandvik Materials Technology team had cause to celebrate.
F55 is a kind of super duplex stainless steel, superior to the 2205 in overall performance. "Super" refers to the high alloying of its components.
MIMETE Srl announced the newest powders from the iron-base family: standard Duplex MARS F51 and Super-duplex MARS F53. Duplex steel F51 is a widely used grade, where the relatively high content of Cr, Mo, and Ni generates better performing mechanical properties when compared to austenitic stainless steel.
Stainless steels, including duplexes and super duplexes are of enormous benefit to the offshore oil and gas industry. They offer reduced weight, increased strength and corrosion resistance, and favourable lifecycle costs, compared to other materials.
Designed to prevent primary water stress corrosion cracking, ultrahigh pressure cavitation peening can extend the life of nuclear reactor primary components, including the hot leg primary nozzles, for up to 40 additional years.
Sandvik has won the first large scale stainless steel umbilical tube order in Brazil’s pre-salt Mero oilfield. The milestone contract is significant for the offshore Brazilian oil and gas industry, which typically uses thermoplastic hose umbilicals.
Dr. So Aoki is a research scientist at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. For the past five years, he has researched the stress corrosion cracking mechanism of low carbon stainless steels used in light water reactor environments.
3D Systems (DDD) recently announced that it has been awarded a contract to conduct research and development of a Corrosion Performance Design Guide for Direct Metal Printing of Nickel Alloys.
The rapid failure of several 316 stainless steel pipes in a heat exchanger raised questions as to whether a manufacturing fault or service conditions were to blame. This second in a series of three case studies conducted by Dr. Elayaperumal examines the corrosion of stainless steel tubes in chloride solution and why duplex would have been the best material of choice.
The dangers of SCC
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a complex and potentially catastrophic phenomenon that occurs when a combination of tensile stress, a corrosive environment, and a susceptible material interact. Unlike traditional corrosion, which is a gradual and uniform degradation of a material, stress corrosion cracking involves the formation and propagation of cracks, often leading to sudden failure.
Stress corrosion cracking commonly affects metals and alloys, such as stainless steels, aluminum alloys, and nickel-based alloys. It can occur in various industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, aerospace, marine, and nuclear power.
The specific mechanisms behind stress corrosion cracking are complex but certain conditions are known to promote its occurrence. These include the presence of a corrosive environment (e.g., chloride ions in aqueous solutions), applied tensile stress, and material susceptibility. The combination of these factors leads to crack initiation, propagation, and eventual failure.
Cracks associated with stress corrosion failure can develop in different patterns, such as intergranular, transgranular, or a combination of both. The cracks may follow grain boundaries or propagate through the grains of the material. Stress corrosion is often difficult to detect because it can occur internally, hidden from visual inspection.
Can you prevent stress corrosion cracking?
Preventing stress corrosion cracking involves understanding and controlling the factors that contribute to its initiation. Strategies include material selection, minimizing tensile stress levels, applying protective coatings, utilizing corrosion inhibitors, and maintaining appropriate environmental conditions. Regular inspections, non-destructive testing, and monitoring are crucial to identifying early signs of stress corrosion cracking and preventing catastrophic failures.
