Stress Corrosion Cracking Stainless Steel
Chloride stress corrosion cracking clscc is one the most common reasons why austenitic stainless steel pipework and vessels deteriorate in the chemical processing and petrochemical industries.
Stress corrosion cracking stainless steel. Chloride stress corrosion is a type of intergranular corrosion and occurs in austenitic stainless steel under tensile stress in the presence of oxygen chloride ions and high temperature. This mode of attack is termed stress corrosion cracking scc. How to reduce the risk of stress corrosion cracking scc the risk of stress corrosion cracking scc can be minimized through plant and equipment design. Duplex stainless steel has become more and more popular for its combination of strength and affordability.
Deterioration by clscc can lead to failures that have the potential to release stored energy and or hazardous substances. Not only can duplex stainless steel hold up reliably through trauma impact but through corrosion as well. The most common environmental exposure condition responsible for scc of stainless steels is the presence of chlorides. A precursor of stress corrosion cracking in chloride bearing environments is pitting corrosion occurring if the stainless steel is not sufficiently resistant to pitting.
Although no stainless steel grade is totally immune to chloride scc the relative resistance of stainless steels varies substantially. Stress corrosion cracking scc is the growth of crack formation in a corrosive environment.