Influence of small amounts of nickel addition on sulfide stress cracking susceptibility in low alloy steel.

Abstract

Sulfide stress cracking (SSC) in AISI 4130 type steel containing small amounts of Ni up to 1 % is investigated. A Shell-bent-beam test shows a significant detrimental effect of Ni, whereas no effect of Ni is observed in a slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test. These results suggest the importance of plastic deformation introduced at the stress-concentrated portion in a Shell type specimen. It is revealed that cold work remarkably deteriorates the SSC resistance of Ni bearing steel through an acceleration of pitting corrosion, even though its Ni con- tent is as low as 0.1 %.