Recent stress corrosion cracking (SCC) experiences with AM-350 (UNS S35000) pump seal bellows in wet H2S service affected a critical review of bellows performance in refinery applications. The results of the review, including specific cases of cracking, are discussed in this paper. Results of NACE Standard TM0284-87 laboratory tests of common bellows materials using the low pH NACE Standard TM-01-77 solution also are reported. While AM-350 readily cracked in the tests, Alloy 718 (UNS N07718) exhibited resistance to SCC. A strategy for bellows replacement in refinery applications based on laboratory test results, field experience, and NACE Standard MR0175 material requirements is presented.

Subject
Materials, Corrosion resistant alloys, Manufacturing, Stainless alloys, Nickel based alloys, Bellows, Refineries, Mechanical failure, Pitting, Monel alloys, Hardness, Alloys, Stress corrosion cracking
Keywords:
pump seal bellows, nickel alloys, stainless steels, stress corrosion cracking, sulfide stress cracking, wet H2S cracking
© 1994 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1994
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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