Mechanistic Insights into Stress Corrosion Cracking through Fundamental Studies of Selective Oxidation Mechanisms
EMSL Project ID
49685
Abstract
Materials degradation and failure in hostile environments are critical issues affecting current and future generations of power generation systems. In this research, we seek to elucidate the mechanistics of environmental degradation using model alloys in in-situ and ex-situ corrosion and stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) tests. Several models exist to explain SCC (internal oxidation, film rupture, hydrogen embrittlement etc.), but each fails to capture key aspects of the degradation and cracking processes. Our research will combine cutting-edge high-resolution empirical examinations with newly developed analytical and computational models to unravel the contributions of environmental conditions, alloy composition, selective oxidation, vacancy generation and diffusion on the degradation process to develop a more thorough understanding of environmental degradation and SCC. Empirical observations will provide unique experimental evidence to prove and disprove various aspects of existing models of materials degradation in extreme environments and guide the development of these new models. Ultimately it is the goal of this research program, extending beyond the time-frame of this proposal, to leverage unique experimental observations to develop novel analytical and computational models that can be expanded to predictive models of realistic alloy compositions and service environments. Specific goals for the scope of the current proposal are to conduct ex-situ and in-situ oxidation studies on model binary alloys. These observations will be used to refine existing models of degradation mechanisms and guide the development of new predictive models.
Project Details
Start Date
2016-11-15
End Date
2017-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Bruemmer SM, MJ Olszta, MB Toloczko, and DK Schreiber. 2018. "Grain Boundary Selective Oxidation and Intergranular Stress Corrosion Crack Growth of High-Purity Nickel Binary Alloys in High-Temperature Hydrogenated Water." Corrosion Science 131:310-323. doi:10.1016/j.corsci.2017.11.024