Austenitic stainless steels are widely used, and are generally successful, in refinery process equipment, particularly in desulfurizers, hydrocrackers, and amine scrubbing units. The austenitic alloys have very good corrosion resistance to high temperature sulfidation to at least 1000°F. The use of these materials also reduces associated problems, such as exchanger fouling and catalyst bed contamination from corrosion products. However, in some instances, the austenitic stainless steels have been found to be susceptible to stress corrosion cracking under conditions involving high stress, changes in metallurgical structure, and the presence of specific chemicals that promote cracking. The chemicals present in refinery streams known to induce stress corrosion cracking in the austenitic alloys are chlorides and polythionic acids. This study is an effort to establish which of the austenitic alloys at the optimum heat treatment required, will give maximum resistance to stress corrosion cracking in refinery environments at the temperature ranges involved and for prolonged time periods.

You do not currently have access to this content.