Stress-corrosion cracking

K. Sieradzki, R. C. Newman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

225 Scopus citations

Abstract

We review stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) with an emphasis on recent developments in this field regarding the transgranular form of cracking. Evidence is presented indicating that transgranular SCC occurs via a series of discontinuous microcleavage events. Each event is typically 1 μm in extent and is triggered by a thin film of several hundred nm in thickness which has formed around the crack tip owing to an anodic process. This mechanism of SCC is called film-induced cleavage and we discuss its operation for many metals including stainless steels, Cu-Al alloys, α-brasses, and pure copper. Analytical calculations are presented which support the concept of film-induced cleavage. The compositional dependence of SCC in Cu-Al and Cu-Zn alloys is shown to correlate exactly with the compositional dependence of de-alloying the less noble metal element from these alloy systems. The selective dissolution process is discussed within the general framework of percolation theory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1101-1113
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids
Volume48
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Corrosion
  • cleavage
  • de-alloying
  • dislocation
  • fracture
  • stress-corrosion cracking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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