Metallurgists have known for many years that low-alloy steels are susceptible to temper embrittlement when exposed to temperatures in the 700-1050 F range. The phenomenon may be identified in several ways1 , one of which is a progressive reduction in the notch toughness of an alloy as embrittlement develops. As the material toughness decreases, its resistance to brittle fracture decreases. The petroleum industry has become increasingly concerned over this aspect of embrittlement since it indicates the potential for brittle fracture of alloy equipment increases with service time in the critical temperature range. The resulting implication is that certain units may now have components capable of brittle failure during startup or shutdown with little or no warning.

Subject
Embrittlement, Scanning electron microscopy, Materials, Transition temperature, Fracture surfaces, Temper embrittlement, Surface morphology, Contraction, Specimen preparation, Tensile strength, Heat, Quenching and tempering, Aging
© 1976 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).
1976
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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