Corrosion Related Failures of Austenitic Stainless Steel Components

Abstract Corrosion related failures form a substantial portion of the total failures of engineering components using austenitic stainless steels. Detailed failure analysis is important to understand the root cause of the failures and to take remedial measures to avoid such failures. Most of the corrosion related failures could be avoided by judicious choice of materials and closer control of process variables. In this article, failure analysis of austenitic stainless steel components carried out at our center is discussed and the probable causes of failures and the recommendation to avoid such failures are also highlighted to serve as a feedback to designers, fabricators and the plant engineers.