Stress Corrosion Cracking in Metals – Mechanisms

Abstract

An overview is given of current understanding of mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking in metals. It is pointed out that most materials are potentially susceptible to stress corrosion cracking, depending on the combination of microstructure, stress, and environmental exposure conditions. Nevertheless, improved understanding and knowledge transfer has reduced significantly the incidence of catastrophic failures in service. Stress corrosion cracking is a highly localized process and emphasis is given to describing the local environment and crack-tip conditions. Finally, a summary description is given of perceived mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking based on crack-tip anodic reaction processes and failure mechanisms involving electrochemically generated hydrogen.