SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1967
STP46465S

Stress Corrosion Cracking Rates of a Nickel-Brass Alloy Under Applied Potential

Source

A method was developed to test the susceptibility of nickelbrass alloys to stress corrosion cracking in the presence of nitrates or other salts. A wire of the alloy under test was stressed, and an electrical leakage path was provided to a cathode by a filter paper impregnated with the electrolyte being studied. Stresses, potentials, salt concentrations, relative humidities, and time were varied to evaluate these factors. In the case of ASTM Grade D nickel-brass alloy, using ammonium nitrate as the electrolyte, the rate of crack penetration increased with increases in the salt concentration in the leakage path, the applied stress, relative humidity, and temperature. There was no direct correlation with the applied potential. Other hygroscopic nitrates such as zinc, and to a lesser degree calcium and copper, also caused stress corrosion cracking. Chlorides and sulfates were ineffective under conditions in which nitrates produced cracking. From the data obtained, the expected failure times of nickel-brass parts at average ambient temperature and humidity could be estimated.

Author Information

McKinney, Nancy
Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., Holmdel, N. J.
Hermance, H., W.
Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., Holmdel, N. J.
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: G01
Pages: 274–291
DOI: 10.1520/STP46465S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-6808-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-6638-7