Cracking of Low Carbon Steel By Ferric Chloride Solutions

Aqueous corrosion of mild steel at 316 C is greatly accelerated by low concentrations of FeCl3. This can lead to stress corrosion cracking in plastically deformed areas subject to high stress. Analogous results can be obtained with chloride-bearing slurries of the ferric oxides and hydrated oxides γ-FeOOH, α-FeOOH, γ-Fe2O3 and Fe2O3 or from slurries of these compounds in contact with chloride-bearing solutions. These observations may be significant in connection, with boiler operations when substantial amounts of chloride are present. 3.5.8