US3159480A - Austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels resistant to stress-corrosion cracking - Google Patents

Austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels resistant to stress-corrosion cracking Download PDF

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Publication number
US3159480A
US3159480A US240737A US24073762A US3159480A US 3159480 A US3159480 A US 3159480A US 240737 A US240737 A US 240737A US 24073762 A US24073762 A US 24073762A US 3159480 A US3159480 A US 3159480A
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Prior art keywords
stress
nickel
phosphorus
stainless steels
cracking
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Expired - Lifetime
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US240737A
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English (en)
Inventor
Harry R Copson
Frances S Lang
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Huntington Alloys Corp
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International Nickel Co Inc
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Priority to US240737A priority Critical patent/US3159480A/en
Priority to BE640550A priority patent/BE640550A/xx
Priority to SE13150/63A priority patent/SE302372B/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3159480A publication Critical patent/US3159480A/en
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22CALLOYS
    • C22C38/00Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/18Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
    • C22C38/40Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to austenitic. stainless steels and, more particularly, to overcoming the vexatious problem of stress-corrosion cracking in hot concentrated chloride solution to which the austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels have been so susceptible heretofore.
  • the austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels have been adopted for a vast number of different industrial and commercial applications, a result undoubtedly attributable, inter alia, to their relatively hi h strength properties at both room and elevated temperatures combined with their inherent ability to be fabricated with relative ease and their resistance to various corrosive environments.
  • Corrosive activity of austenitic nickel-chromium stainless steels has been classified into four major categories: (1) general corrosion (usually a complete breakdown of the passive or protective film), (2) pitting corrosion (generally the occurrence of localized attack coupled with depth of penetration), (3) stress-corrosion cracking and (4) intergranular corrosion.
  • the present invention is particularly concerned with the prevention of stress-corrosion caching, a condition which generally arises without any significant occurrence of general corrosion.
  • the theories advanced have been numero-us and the following are illustrative of but a few of them: (1) the quasi-martensite theory, i.e., plastic defor mation results in the formation of a quasi-martensite which is preferentially attacked so as to result in cracking, (2) the plastic deformation theory which involves the formation of crack-sensitive paths wherein precipitates (carbides and nitrides) are formed at stressed areas which are thought to act as cathodes and the contiguous area of the steel as anodes of electrochemical cells entering into progressive corrosion and crack propagation, (3) the restricted slip theory which essentially is a theory of predicting susceptibility to stress-corrosion cracking, i.e., alloys which manifest cross slipping rather easily are considered to possess immunity to cracking, whereas alloys which inherently exhibit a high degree of resistance to slip are considered to be susceptible to cracking.
  • the quasi-martensite theory i.e., plastic defor mation results in the formation of a quasi-martensite which is prefer
  • stress-corrosion cracking is of an electrochemical nature and the use of protective currents should assist in preventing cracking.
  • the difficulties arising from this approach, including the impracticability of carrying it out on a commercial scale, are well known and will not be dwelt upon herein.
  • stress-corrosion cracking still occurs.
  • Other proposals include change of alloy composition, e.g., maintaining the carbon and nitrogen contents at very low levels in 18-8 stainless steel and cold working. Actually, this results in a ferritic stainless steel or one very high in ferrite.
  • the detrimental effect of phosphorus is overcome.
  • This avoids use of processing techniques to eliminate phosphorus and is thus beneficial in maintaining the cost of producing the steels at an economic level.
  • what might have heretofore been considered as a relatively high and detrimental amount of nitrogen, e.g., 0.035%, can be present in the austenitic steels of the instant invention provided that the composition is critically balanced.
  • a particular feature and advantage of the invention is that air-melting practices and commercial grades of materials can be employed. These factors greatly contribute to maintaining the economic competitiveness of the steels.
  • austenitic stainless steels of the following composition: at least 19% and up to about nickel, about 15% to about 30% chromium, up to 0.1% carbon, from 1.7% to about 2.5% silicon, phosphorus in an amount up to not more than 0.018%, nitrogen in an amount up to 0.045% but preferably not greater than 0.04% the sum of the phosphorus plus nitrogen being controlled such that it does not exceed 0.055%, and the balance essentially iron.
  • silicon content is on the low side, i.e., 1.7%, it is advantageous that the carbon content be at least 0.04%.
  • the nickel content should fall below 19%, e.g., 18%, stress-corrosion cracking can occur. Amounts of nickel higher than 35% are unnecessary and only increase cost.
  • the minimum silicon content is most important. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the silicon content should be at least 1.9% particularly when the carbon content is at a level of 0.03% or less.
  • a particular advantage of this silicon-carbon relationship is that the occurrence of detrimental transgranular cracks is not only greatly minimized, but intergranular corrosion is also avoided. Thus, subsequent solution-annealing coupled with rapid cooling treatments to minimize intergranular cracking are unnecessary.
  • the silicon content can be lowered to 1.7%, but in so doing it is advantageous that the carbon content should be at least 0.04%. Although carbon can be present in an amount up to 0.1%, carbon contents above 0.05% are unnecessary.
  • the maximum silicon content should not exceed 2.5 because of difiiculties in forging the steels. Phosphorus, a subversive, should not exceed 0.018%. It has been found, for example, that even in high-purity, vacuum-treated austenitic stainless steels, 0.023% phosphorus is most harmful since it actively promotes stresscorrosion cracking. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the A181 commercial grades of austenitic stainless steels contain up to 0.2% phosphorus.
  • Phosphorus contents of the order of 0.2% and higher have been known to impart beneficial effects to austenitic stainless steels. For example, it has been indicated that even 0.12% phosphorus improves stress-rupture properties at high temperatures. However, in accordance with the invention, such amounts of phosphorus are detrimental.
  • Nitrogen is present in austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels and is known to act subversively. There are prior references indicating that nitrogen should be maintained at a very low level; however, it has now been found that in the steels provided in accordance With this invention, comparatively high amounts of nitrogen, i.e., up to 0.045% can be present. However, the total phosphorus and nitrogen contents should not exceed 0.055% and it is most advantageous that the sum not exceed 0.045%. Additionally, if the phosphorus content is on the high side, it is preferable to maintain the nitrogen content on the low side and vice versa.
  • specimens for test were also prepared using materials of high purity (electrolytic iron, electrolytic chromium) and vacuum melting technique. Because of availability, carbonyl or electro-nickel was used in the tests. Initially, ingots were prepared from compositions as set forth in the appropriate tables hereinafter.
  • the ingots were machined and ground to remove all surface defects and contamination, were heated in air to a temperature of about 2150" F. and were then forged in air to /1 inch slabs; All surfaces were again machined to a depth of A; inch to insure removal of any contaminating effect that might have been introduced from the forging operations.
  • test specimens were machined from the forgings and subjected to the U-bend, magnesium chloride test.
  • the steels tested in the forged condition were of high purity and vacuum treated (Tables I and LA).
  • Other specimens of the forged material were cut into inch x inch slices and cold-rolled about 7 40% and subjected to test in the cold-rolled condition.
  • cold-rolled specimens were also annealed in an argon atmosphere for one hour at 1950 F. and water quenched. These too were subjected to the U-bend, magnesium chloride test. In some cases the forgings were hot-rolled prior to cold rolling. All specimens were finish ground to about 40 microinches or finer to avoid possible surface contamination. Still other specimens were sensitized, i.e., subjected to an intermediate temperature treatment, e.g., about 1250 F., and then subjected to test in the sensitized condition.
  • an intermediate temperature treatment e.g., about 1250 F.
  • test specimens were formed in the configuration of a U-bend by taking specimen samples of about 6 inches long, /2 inch wide andabout Vs inch thick, and bending them over a mandrel using a tensile test machine. This induced considerable stress in the specimens and the specimens were then placed in a vise and the legs of the notwithstanding that highly pure materials and vacuum techniques are employed.
  • vacuum melting, electrolytic iron, electrolytric chromium and carbonyl nickel were used in the preparation of the austenitic stainless steels having compositions shown in Table I.
  • test specimens of at least one of the groups (forged, cold-rolled, annealed or sensitized) under test were suspended in each flask with the apices of the bends and about half of the legs immersed in the solution.
  • the time required for cracking was the criterion employed in determining susceptibility or resistance to stress-corrosion cracking.
  • the specimens were usually removed from test every second or third day and examined under a magnifier for cracks. When cracking was evident, the specimens were removed from test. Whenno cracking occurred in a period of about two weeks, fresh magnesium chloride solutions were used to replace the old solution.
  • Chemical Composition 1 3 any appreciable degree in (or at least are not intentionally added to) austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels.
  • the amounts of bismuth, arsenic and antimony should not exceed 0.015%, 0.615%, and 0.015%, espectively.
  • Molybdenum is quite often added to stainless steels for a number of reasons. In accordance with the invention, the amount of molybdenum should be controlled so as not to exceed 0.075% and preferably not more than 0.05%.
  • Tables II and Il-A illustrate the importance of main- 5() ant to stress-corrosion cracking when subjected to stress taining the required composition correlation among the elements which form the austen itic chromium-nickel stainless steels of the invention.
  • Alloys Nos. 8 through 12 all manifested stress-corrosion cracking and in each instance the silicon content was at a level outside the present invention. When the silicon content was greater than 1.7% as in Alloys Nos. 13 through 16, stress-corrosion cracking did not occur.
  • Alloys Nos. 17 through 20 reflect what happens when the nickel content is below the minimum of 19%. Cracking occurred in each of these steels. In this regard, it is to be observed that Alloy No.
  • elements other than phosphorus have to be controlled in order to avoid the subversive influence which they exert with respect to the resistance of austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels to stress-corrosion cracking.
  • These elements include aluminum, molybdenum, bismuth, arsenic and antimony.
  • the latter three elements are not normally found present to and in contact with halide solutions.
  • the steels in addition to being highly useful for high temperature applications, are especially suitable in the chemical processing industry Where stress-corrosion cracking has heretofore been so prominent. It is to be further pointed out that no impairment in mechanical properties of the austenitic steels within the invention is encountered. Actually, the mechanical properties show an improvement over the properties of the typical AISI grades of austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels.
  • An austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel highly resistant to stress-corrosion cracking when subjected to stress and in contact with halide solutions said steel consisting essentially of about 20% to about 30% nickel, about 16% to about 25% chromium, about 1.9% to about 2.5% silicon, carbon in an amount up to 0.03%, phosphorus in an amount up to not more than 0.015%, nitrogen in an amount up to 0.035%, the sum of the phosphorus plus nitrogen not exceeding 0.045%, up to 0.7% manganese, and the balance essentially iron.
  • An austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel highly resistant to stress-corrosion cracking when subjected to stress and in contact with halide solutions said steel consistin g essentially of from 19% to about 35% nickel, about silicon, carbon in an amount up to 0.1%, phosphorus in an amount up to not more than 0.018%, nitrogen in an amount up to not more than 0.045%, the sum of the phosphorus plus nitrogen not exceeding 0.055%, up to 0.7% manganese, and the balance essentially iron.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Steel (AREA)
US240737A 1962-11-28 1962-11-28 Austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels resistant to stress-corrosion cracking Expired - Lifetime US3159480A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

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US240737A US3159480A (en) 1962-11-28 1962-11-28 Austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels resistant to stress-corrosion cracking
BE640550A BE640550A (en:Method) 1962-11-28 1963-11-28
SE13150/63A SE302372B (en:Method) 1962-11-28 1963-11-28

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3486885A (en) * 1967-04-03 1969-12-30 Atomic Energy Commission Stainless steel alloy with low phosphorus content
US3492117A (en) * 1966-10-21 1970-01-27 Int Nickel Co Corrosion resistant stainless type alloys
US3910788A (en) * 1973-04-21 1975-10-07 Nisshin Steel Co Ltd Austenitic stainless steel
US5081393A (en) * 1989-03-18 1992-01-14 Hitachi, Ltd. Electron gun having electrodes effective for improving convergence in a color cathode-ray tube

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3492117A (en) * 1966-10-21 1970-01-27 Int Nickel Co Corrosion resistant stainless type alloys
US3486885A (en) * 1967-04-03 1969-12-30 Atomic Energy Commission Stainless steel alloy with low phosphorus content
US3910788A (en) * 1973-04-21 1975-10-07 Nisshin Steel Co Ltd Austenitic stainless steel
US5081393A (en) * 1989-03-18 1992-01-14 Hitachi, Ltd. Electron gun having electrodes effective for improving convergence in a color cathode-ray tube

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