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ML00018 - Apr.2017

SCC in Boiler Steam Drum

Detail of the cracking showing that the propagation is predominantly intergranular but there are regions of transgranular propagation.

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Detail of the showing that the propagation is predominantly intergranular but there are regions of transgranular propagation.
M

Material

Low Carbon Steel
  • ASTM A 515 grade 60
Ds

Description

The steam drum was because the inspection detected deeper than 50% of the shell thickness. The cracks were located close to the position where an external support was welded to the shell. The metallurgical analysis indicated that the cracks started from the internal drum surface, and presented intergranular/transgranular branching morphology in the perlitic , probably associated to (alkaline environment).

C

Chemistry (% in weight)

Shell Plate

0.25C; 0.24Si; 0.80Mn; 0.012P; 0.028S; 0.02Cr; 0.03Ni; 0.02Mo.

Associated Images
Typical branched stress corrosion cracks in a low carbon steel, ferritic-pertlitic structure. The cracks are filled with corrosion products.
771
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks
Ferritic perlitic structure of the shell plate.
207
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Ferrite and Pearlite
Macrography of a transverse section of the steam drum sample that was removed after the inspection had detected multiple cracks propagating into the thickness, more than 50% deep in the thickness.
190
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - NItal Etched MacroDf - Transverse Section
Micrography of the crack at the internal surface of the steam drum. The shell plate presents a ferritic perlitic structure.
162
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks
Micrography of a crack, in a sample as polished, presenting the opened crack.
144
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks
Stress corrosion cracks propagating in the ferritic-perlitic structure.
120
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks
Micrography of a crack, as polished, presenting the cracks filled with corrosion products.
100
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks
Micrographic detail of a crack, in a sample as polished, presenting regions of opened cracks and filled cracks.
88
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks
Detail of the cracking showing that the propagation is predominantly intergranular but there are regions of transgranular propagation.
89
VIEW
ML00018 / Apr.2017
SCC in Boiler Steam Drum
M - Low Carbon SteelP - Rolled PlateAp - BoilerCd - Stress Corrosion
Cm - Nital Etched Micrography by OMDf - Branched Cracks