A study has been performed concerning the role of thermal treatments on the SCC behaviour of Inconel 600 tubing in NaOH solutions in the temperature range 315-360°C. An additional investigation was undertaken to establish the effect of the NaOH concentration built-up under magnetite deposits. The changes in the microstructural variables in the four metallurgical conditions studied were identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). C-ring and slow strain rate tests (10^-6s^-1) yielded identical results. SEM fractographs were additionally taken to reveal the cracking mode. It has been found that thermal treatment improves the SCC resistance in hot caustic solutions; particularly annealing at 650°C for 50 h appeared to impart the maximum improvement of SCC resistance.

Export Date: 26 August 2010Source: Scopus