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Title: Chloride stress-corrosion cracking of stainless steel piping from the Synthane Coal-Gasification Pilot Plant: failure analysis report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6173450· OSTI ID:6173450

A leaking crack was discovered in an approx. 14-cm-long x 5.1-cm-OD section of stainless steel piping used to inject oxygen into the Synthane gasifier. The crack extended longitudinally for approx. 1 cm at the OD and approx. 5 cm at the ID. The leaking crack was one of several discovered at the ID; all were branched and transgraular, which is typical of chloride-assisted stress corrosion. Although one crack extended into the heat-affected zone of a nearby weld, welding was not a cause of the failure. The affected piping was specified to be Type 316 stainless steel in order to minimize pitting attack. However, a chemical analysis revealed that the molybdenum content was not within the manufacturer's specification for Type 316 stainless steel (0.34 wt % measured versus 2 to 3 wt % specified). A check valve downstream from the cracked section of pipe was also found by Synthane personnel to be defective and it is believed that steam may have leaked into the affected section. The steam may have been the source of the chlorides.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6173450
Report Number(s):
ANL/MSD/FE-78-10
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English