Evaluation of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Type 304L Stainless Steel in Low Concentration Sodium Hydroxide Solution with High Temperature

Abstract

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of austenitic stainless steel serviced in aggressive environment often occurs in power, petrochemical industry, and leads to premature equipment failure and great economic loss. This paper focuses on the problem of the SCC on the 304L stainless steel nozzle of a hydrogenation reactor, which is caused due to on-line alkali cleaning. Susceptibility for SCC was evaluated by Slow Strain Rate Test (SSRT) for as-rolled and sensitized 304L stainless steel in low concentration sodium hydroxide solution with high temperature. The effects of different strain rates, different concentration of sodium hydroxide and different solution temperatures on SCC were investigated. On the basis of this, the contrast tests were also performed in high temperature pure water. After SSRT, fractograph of the fractured specimens was analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).