Stainless steel corrosion failures often result from grain boundary sensitization. Many 300 series stainless steel alloys come in two grades or more. For example 304 stainless steel comes as 304, 304L and 304H. Each grade has a different amount of carbon (C). the 304 grade allows up to .0.08% C; whereas 304 L allows a […]
Brass Plumbing Failure Analysis Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC)
California failure analysis expert witness has analyzed numerous plumbing failures involving yellow brass (i.e. brass with more than 30% Zn in the alloy). The two major brass failure modes in yellow brass are dezincification and stress corrosion cracking. Above are two samples of stress corrosion cracking. Sress corrosion of yellow brass commonly involves the presence of ammonia along with the […]
Failure Analysis Expert Examines a Plumbing Failure
A failure analysis was performed on a plumbing failure. The line is a corrugated water line to a bathroom sink. The pipe failure occurred at a bend in the water supply line it was due to stress corrosion of the yellow brass line. Microscopic examination of the largest crack showed that there was also dezincification […]