SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1993
STP24853S

An Assessment of the Flammability Hazard of Several Corrosion Resistant Metal Alloys

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The Space Shuttle launch environment at the John F. Kennedy Space Center is extremely corrosive. Recent corrosion studies have identified Hastelloy B-2, Haynes Alloy C-230, Hastelloy C-22, Hastelloy C-276, Hastelloy G-30, and Inconel 625 as being very resistant to this launch environment. Since several corrosion related problems have been encountered in the launch support oxygen systems, especially the expansion bellows in the liquid oxygen vacuum jacketed lines, it was decided to evaluate the flaramability of these alloys in oxygen. Therefore, the NASA White Sands Test Facility was requested to evaluate the ignition susceptibility of these alloys using particle impact, frictional heating, and promoted combustion tests. These tests indicated that the corrosion resistant alloys were more ignition resistant than the materials in the existing systems. Hastelloy C-22 expansion bellows installed in the Orbiter Fuel Cell Servicing System have performed satisfactorily since installation in 1989.

Author Information

Bryan, CJ
Failure Analysis and Materials Evaluation Branch, John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL
Stoltzfus, JM
White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM
Gunaji, MV
Lockheed-ESC, White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM
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Details
Developed by Committee: G04
Pages: 112–118
DOI: 10.1520/STP24853S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5247-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1855-3