Stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steels in chloride environment
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the effect of applied potentials on Stress Corrosion Cracking
(SCC) of Austenitic Stainless Steels (ASS), Type 304L in a potentiostatically controlled chloride
environment at ambient temperature. The stress corrosion cracking tests were carried out on
annealed ASS using a Slow Strain Rate Test (SSRT) technique in sodium chloride solution
acidified with hydrochloric acid at ambient temperature. Analyses of failed specimens were carried
out using optical microscope. The study showed that plastic elongation, ultimate tensile strength
and time to failure decrease as the applied potential increases during the slow strain rate test. The
study showed that immunity of ASS to chloride SCC was improved when the electrochemical
potential was maintained in the primary passive potential range. Analysis of failed samples showed
evidences of SCC.
Description
Keywords
Failure, Passive film, Stress corrosion crack, Stainless Steels, SSRT