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ML00157 - Feb.2020

Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions

Aspect of a broken 5/16" bolt that was operating inside the pressure vessel in a condition that exceeds the limits of use of the AISI 316 steel. The fracture is located close to the position where there was the bolt head and the threads were "removed" close to the fracture surface.

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Aspect of a broken 5/16" that was operating inside the in a condition that exceeds the limits of use of the . The is located close to the position where there was the head and the threads were "removed" close to the surface.
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Material

Austenitic Stainless Steel
  • AISI 316
  • ASTM A 193 grade B8M class 2
Ds

Description

Several failed after 2 years in operation inside a crude oil separator vessel in a production plant. The material selection for fasteners of internals did not consider the limiting conditions (in this case the temperature higher than 60°C) to resist a wet environment containing chloride. The threads of the 316 were first removed, and then the bolt body was broken, in a brittle way, due to a (CSCC) mechanism.

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Chemistry (% in weight)

Bolt analysis

0.05C; 0.35Si; 1.62Mn; 0.034P; 0.012S; 16.63Cr; 10.2Ni; 2.01Mo.

Associated Images
Optical micrography of a longitudinal section of the fractured bolt, at the thread. The material is austenitic, free from carbides, and the threads were almost removed by the stress corrosion cracks.
756
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Stress Corrosion Cracks
Aspect of a 5/16" bolt manufactured in an AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel, that was also operating inside the pressure vessel, but was not yet damaged. It is a hexagonal head bolt, 1 1/2" long, fastened with a hexagonal nut and a lock washer.
118
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Aspect Before AnalysisDf - General View
Low magnification micrography, by optical microscope, of the longitudinal section of a damaged bolt, in the center of the thickness. The microstructure is austenitic, free from carbides.
100
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Austenite
Micrography, by optical microscope, of the longitudinal section of a damaged bolt, in the center of the thickness. The microstructure is austenitic, free from carbides, strain hardened. The hardness values of the material are from 200HV1 to 300HV1, that meets the class 2 of strenght (ASTM A193 B8M class 2).
79
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Strain Hardened
Detail of the strain hardened austenitic microstructure. Micrography by optical microscope, of the longitudinal section of a bolt, in the center of the thickness.
76
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Strain Hardened
Aspect of a broken 5/16" bolt that was operating inside the pressure vessel in a condition that exceeds the limits of use of the AISI 316 steel. The fracture is located close to the position where there was the bolt head and the threads were "removed" close to the fracture surface.
75
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Aspect Before AnalysisDf - Fracture
Low magnification microscope image showing the aspect of the thread close to the fracture surface. Looks like a wear or strong corrosion, but in fact the threads were removed because they were cracked, as can be seen in the next figures.
67
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Surface AspectDf - Low Mag
Low magnification SEM image showing the brittle aspect of the cracks in the bolt thread.
61
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - Brittle Cracks
Detail of the bolt thread in a SEM image, showing parts of the thread removed in a brittle way.
62
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - Brittle Fracture
Macrography of the longitudinal section of a fractured bolt, still threaded to the nut and with the lock washer. The cracks can be seen in several positions: in the threads (removing then); in the center of the bolt (branched) and also in the washer (longitudinal branched cracks).
65
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Macro Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchedDf - Longitudinal Section
Optical micrography of a longitudinal section of the fractured bolt, at the thread. The material is austenitic, free from carbides, and the threads were fully cracked by the stress corrosion mechanism.
58
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Stress Corrosion Cracks
Optical micrography of a longitudinal section of the fractured bolt, under the thread, showing stress corrosion cracks through the section.
46
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Stress Corrosion Cracks
Detailed aspect of the stress corrosion cracks in a longitudinal section of the fractured bolt, under the thread. The microstructure is strain hardened austenite.
47
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Stress Corrosion Cracks
Detailed aspect of the brached transgranular stress corrosion cracks, in a longitudinal section of the fractured bolt. The microstructure is strain hardened austenite.
40
VIEW
ML00157 / Feb.2020
Bolts Under Chloride SCC Conditions
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - BoltAp - Oil and GasCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchDf - Stress Corrosion Cracks