Abstract
It is shown that stressed specimens of Zr-2.5 wt% Nb alloy can suffer brittle failure as a result of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) caused by contamination with human perspiration. The SCC is analogous to that previously observed for Zircaloy-2 contaminated with traces of a eutectic mixture of sodium and potassium nitrate and chloride. The chlorides are a primary component of perspiration and the nitrate probably comes from oxidation of organic nitrogenous compounds in perspiration. The contamination is more potent when tests are carried out in impure helium than when carried out in air, presumably through the effect of the atmosphere on the state of the organic component of the contamination.
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