Stress corrosion cracking of alpha-brass in solutions containing some sulphur species

ABSTRACT

Stress corrosion cracking [SCC] tests were carried out for alpha-brass in solutions of Na2SO3 and Na2S2O3 by using the constant slow strain rate technique. It was found that brass is susceptible to undergo SCC in Na2SO3 and Na2S2O3 solutions at the open-circuit as well as at the anodic polarization conditions. The susceptibility to SCC increases with increase of the solution concentration and with anodic polarization. The mode of cracking was intergranular in Na2O3 solutions and mixed to predominantly transgranular in Na2S2O3 solutions. The susceptibility of brass to SCC is greater in thiosulfate solutions as compared with sulfite solutions