Slow strain rate stress corrosion cracking tests have been performed on a high purity 0.02%C steel in ammonium carbonate solutions at 70°C as a function of applied electrochemical potential. A critical potential range for fatal cracking was observed. At potentials slightly active to the critical potential range, transgranular and intergranular fissuring was observed. At potential noble to the critical range intergranular fissuring was observed. Fatigue pre-cracking had no effect on the extent or rate of stress corrosion cracking. Nor did hydrogen embrittlement. These results indicate that IGSCC of carbon steels is the result of a very specific interaction between grain boundary chemistry and the micromechanics of near boundary interactions.

Subject
Noble potential, Films, External surfaces, Corrosion fatigue, Intergranular stress corrosion cracking, Fracture surfaces, Transgranular stress corrosion cracking, Corrosion products, Steel, Carbonate stress corrosion cracking, Grain boundary, Electrochemical potential, Stress corrosion cracking
Keywords:
stress corrosion, carbon steel, intergranular cracking, carbonate solutions
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1995
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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