A Study on the Effect of Surface Grinding on Chloride Induced Pitting Initiation of Austenitic Stainless Steel 304 under Thermal Insulation at Ambient Temperature

Abstract

The investigation was carried out to study the effect of surface grinding on chloride induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) of austenitic stainless steels 304 at ambient temperature condition. The U-bend tests with thickness 13 mm as per ASTM G 30 were used to investigate the effect of surface grinding on chloride induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) of austenitic stainless steel 304 in a corrosive atmosphere containing sodium chloride at ambient temperature. At a high level of tensile residual stress had developed the pits on U-bend specimen surface at ambient temperature with the presence of low to high chloride concentration level. The experimental results recommend that develop a proper metallurgical fabrication criteria, specification, and procedures for pressure vessels to avoid a recurrence in future.