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Title: Stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement of ferritic stainless steels: effects of thermomechanical treatments

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6737871

The influence of thermomechanical treatments on the stress corrosion crack initiation and hydrogen assisted crack growth of 26 Cr-1Mo alloys in boiling 42% LiCl solutions and 5% H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ solutions was investigated using a uniaxial constant load fixture. Annealing at temperatures where only recovery processes operate, reduces the susceptibility of prestrained low interstitial 26 Cr-1Mo alloy (E-Brite) to SCC in boiling chloride solutions. Both slip-step height and density, which are the major parameters controlling the breakdown of protective films in these alloys, are reduced substantially by annealing near 300/sup 0/C for 1 hour. Continuous exposure of unfilmed metal to the progressive environment is provided during SCC due to creep; this causes reduction in overall repassivation rate. Grain coarsening and prestraining operations result in larger slip step height and density due to increase in dislocation density. Crack propagation potential for as-received (mill-annealed) E-Brite during SCC in boiling chloride solution is the protection potential for the localized corrosion. Crack growth in SCC of these ferritic stainless steels is by the hydrogen embrittlement mechanism.

Research Organization:
Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
6737871
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English