Abstract:
21Cr2NiMo steel is widely used to stabilize offshore oil platforms; however, it suffers from stress-corrosion cracking (SCC). Herein, we studied the SCC behavior of 21Cr2NiMo steel in SO
2-polluted coastal atmospheres. Electrochemical tests revealed that the addition of SO
2 increased the corrosion current. Rust characterization showed that SO
2 addition densified the corrosion products and promoted pitting. Furthermore, slow strain rate tests demonstrated a high susceptibility to SCC in high SO
2 contents. Fracture morphologies revealed that the stress-corrosion cracks initiated at corrosion pits and the crack propagation showed transgranular and intergranular cracking modes. In conclusion, SCC is mix-controlled by anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms.