Intergranular cracking in alloy steels can result from absorption of hydrogen by the steel or by localized anodic dissolution. The former has been shown to be the result of weakening of grain boundaries (i.e., reduction of their cohesive energy) by impurity segregation, the same phenomenon which is called "temper embrittlement" when the intergranular fracture occurs in an inoccuous environment. Later it was found that localized anodic dissolution is also sometimes due to impurity segregation, specifically of phosphorus. Some important questions remaining to be answered are: First, under which service conditions is intergranular cracking due entirely to anodic dissolution along grain boundaries, as opposed to hydrogen-induced cracking, perhaps following initial crevice formation by anodic dissolution? Secondly, would intergranular anodic dissolution occur in the relevant environments (steam, caustic condensate, etc.) in the absence of any impurity segregation?

Subject
Embrittlement, Intergranular stress corrosion cracking, Stress cracking, Intergranular cracking, Anodic dissolution, Impurities, Heat, Steel, Elements, Grain boundary, Yield strength, Stress corrosion cracking, Hydrogen
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1981
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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