The Effects of Alloying Additions to Ferritic Steels upon Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance

Abstract

Abstract The effects of Al, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mo, Si, and Ti additions in varying amounts to ferritic steels upon the stress corrosion cracking susceptibilities in a nitrate, a hydroxide, and a carbonate-bicarbonate solution have been determined for the steels in the annealed condition. The effects of the alloying additions vary with the environment, but Cr and Ti, in sufficient amounts, most frequently produced improvements in cracking resistance in the different solutions. The influences of the various alloying additions are mostly dependent upon their effects on dissolution and passivation characteristics, although their effects upon carbon distribution in the steel and mechanical properties are also of importance.