Stress Corrosion Cracking Properties Of Uns S32101 -A New Duplex Stainless Steel With Low Nickel Content

UNS S32101 is a general-purpose lean duplex stainless steel with low nickel content. The stress corrosion cracking properties of UNS S32101 were investigated under constant strain conditions. Both evaporative and immersion test methods were used. The results for UNS S32101 were compared with those of a standard austenitic stainless steel and other duplex grades. Immersed in concentrated chloride solutions, UNS S32101 exhibited similar resistance to stress corrosion cracking as other duplex grades. In the wick test UNS S32101 was not susceptible to stress corrosion cracking and was comparable to other duplex grades while the austenitic grade tested failed due to stress corrosion cracking. When exposed to chloride deposits under atmospheric conditions UNS S32101along with other duplex grades, did not suffer from stress corrosion cracking while the austenitic grade did. Thus, the chloride stress corrosion cracking resistance of UNS S32101 was shown to be far superior to that of austenitic grade UNS S30400. Moreover, UNS S32101 displays behaviour similar to other duplex steel grades tested. With the test methods used, it was not possible to obtain an individual ranking of the different duplex stainless steel grades.