Failure of Type 316 Stainless Steel Autoclave Components

A short account is given of an investigation into the cause of failure of a number of Type 316 stainless steel autoclave components that failed in service after an extremely short operational life. Failure of these components situated in the vapor phase was attributed to stress-corrosion cracking. The active corrodant was probably chloride while the stresses that initiated failure were predominantly residual. There is evidence that the components suffered some degree of cold working prior to installation, the latter probably resulting from machining or fabrication. The failure was in no way due to the use at any time of excessive operating temperatures or pressures. 7.6.3