Some Observations of Stress-Corrosion Cracking in Austenitic Stainless Alloys

Austenitic stainless alloys are susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking which may occur under certain corrosion environments irrespective of their susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. Test samples are described for investigating stress-corrosion susceptibility of alloys for industrial equipment. A laboratory test using a solution of magnesium chloride boiling at 309 F. was found to produce transgranular cracks in several alloys investigated and in types 347 and 316 stainless steel tubing a residual stress of the order of 10,000 psi. was observed to initiate cracking. The susceptibility to stress-corrosion cracking as judged by the boiling magnesium chloride test indicates that alloys may be selected which will withstand a high stress in service Stressed specimens of stainless alloys included in a corrosion testing program will aid in determining the acceptibility of these fabricated alloys, when stressed, to the service conditions.