Stress corrosion cracking

Stress corrosion cracking is a type of corrosion, that causes cracks with intercrystalline (along the grain boundary of the microstructure) and transcrystalline (within the grain) propagation to form in metals due to the effects of certain corrosive media at purely static or superimposed dynamic low-cycle mechanical stresses. These may also already be inherent in the workpiece in the form of tensile stresses.

Characteristic of stress corrosion cracking is separation with low-level deformation, often occurring without the formation of any visible corrosion products. A causal distinction is made between electrolytic (anodic) and hydrogen- or elongation-induced cracking. See Figs. 10, 11 Corrosion