Comparative analysis of corrosion cracking of austenitic steels with different contents of nitrogen in chloride- and hydrogen-containing media

Abstract

The structural state and the resistance to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) at constant loads have been studied using samples with a grown crack by the method of the cantilever bending on quenched austenitic stainless steels of the 20Cr-6Ni-11Mn-2Mo-N-V-Nb (Kh20N6G11M2AFB) type, with different contents of nitrogen (0.17, 0.34, 0.43, and 0.50 wt % N). The tests were conducted in a 3.5% aqueous solution of NaCl (without providing polarization) and in a similar solution under cathodic polarization, which causes the formation of hydrogen. It has been shown that, in a chloride solution without polarization, the steels do not undergo SCC for 2000 h. In the case of significant cathodic polarization via employment of a magnesium protector, there was revealed a brittle character of fracture upon SCC in all steels. It has been shown that steel with a nitrogen content of 0.43 wt % possesses the maximum absolute values of rupture stresses under the conditions of cathodic polarization.