Stress corrosión cracking in 17-4PH and 17-7PH stainless steeis in NaCl and NaOH (20 %) a 90 °C

Abstract

One of the problems that affects to the electric industry is the not programmed stoppages in the power plants, due to the failure of any main component: boiler, turbine and generator. In the turbine, the combined action of a corrosive agent (humid polluted vapor) and a mechanical effort generally will result in Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). In this work the SCC susceptibility of the precipitation hardening stainless steels 17-4PH and 17- 7PH, thoroughly used in steam turbine blades of power stations is analyzed. The specimens were tested in the presence of NaCl and NaOH (20 %) to 90 °C and different pH. The CERT test (Constant Extension Rate Test) was used, at 10^-6 s^-1 supplementing it with electrochemical noise; the aim was to identify the conditions of maximum susceptibility and the performance of the studied materials. The fractographic analysis revealed ductile and brittle fracture. Intergranular crackings, characteristic of the anodic dissolution mechanism of the material was observed. Nevertheless, the main mechanism responsible the failure was hydrogen embrittlement.