Chloride SCC of stainless steel? No - Cyclic strain cracking!

Many piping failures in hydrogen manufacturing plants have been thought to be caused by chloride stress corrosion cracking (SCC). This study provided strong evidence that such failures actually were a form of corrosion fatigu e involving thermal cyclic stress in environments normally considered benig n to stainless steel. Corrosion fatigue can produce cracking that resembles SCC. Investigators should be cognizant of the possibility of cyclic stress acceleration when unusual cracking failures occur. Alloys that are more re sistant to this cracking are recommended.