Procedure for analyzing stress

corrosion cracking
Standard test for analyzing scc
Standard tests are generally designed to test a material for its
weakness to scc in an environment that induces corrosion. The
following are the procedures generally used to analyze the
stress corrosion cracking.

Constant stress or constant displacement test
Fracture mechanics test
Slow strain rate test or constant extension rate test
Constant stress or constant
displacement test

In this method the specimen is subjected to a
constant load while exposed to the solution to
induce corrosion.

The susceptibility to scc is than concluded by the time taken for
failure of the specimen or the development of cracks on its surface.
Fracture mechanics test
For this test a specimen with pre existing crack
(produced by fatigue cycling) is used.

The procedure involves recording the time taken to
failure, change in length of crack with time and plotting
the graph of crack growth rate to the stress intensity
factor.
The slow strain rate test or
constant extension test
This test involves the application of the slow extension
rate to the specimen in order to keep a continuing plastic
strain at the surface of the Specimen.

This will induce the initiation and growth of stress
corrosion cracking on the surface of Specimen.

The results are evaluated by calculating the time taken
for failure to occur or the appearance of the fracture
surface.
Hydrogen damage & its types
Hydrogen damage refers to the mechanical damage of
metal caused by the presence of or interaction with,
hydrogen. It may be classified into:

Hydrogen blistering
Hydrogen embrittlement
Decarburization
Hydrogen attack

Here a cross section of a wall of a tank is shown in fig. The interior contains the acid
electrolyte, the exterior is exposed to the atmosphere. Hydrogen evolution occurs
on the inner surface as a result of a corrosion reaction on cathodic protection. The
hydrogen atom diffuse through the metal and forms hydrogen molecule on the
exterior. Some hydrogen atoms get trapped in side the void and accumulate as
hydrogen molecule. As the concentration of H2 increases the pressure increases
which is enough to rupture any engineering materials which is called blistering.








Hydrogen blistering

Hydrogen embrittlement

It is the process by which various metals, most importantly high
strength steel become brittle and fracture following exposure to
hydrogen. The mechanism is almost similar to hydrogen blistering.
The H2 inside the voids have increased pressure which is enough to
reduce the ductility and tensile strength to the point of cracking.
Decarburization

Decarburization is the process of reducing the carbon
content in a metal.

Decarburization occurs when carbon in the metal reacts
during heating with oxygen or hydrogen in the
atmosphere. Which results in the mechanical damage to
the metal.
C + O2 CO2
Hydrogen attack

Hydrogen present in metals can produce several kinds of internal
defects like blistering, fracture ,porosity.

Carbon steel exposed to hydrogen at high temperature experience
hydrogen attack which leads to internal decarburization and
weakening.
Prevention
The best method of controlling hydrogen damage is to control
contact between the metal and hydrogen by using coatings such as
metallic coating, rubber and plastic coating etc.
THE END