Effect of magnesium on the lead induced corrosion and SCC of alloy 800 in neutral crevice solution at high temperature

Dissolved magnesium species in the feed water reduce the incidence of lead-induced stress corrosion cracking (PbSCC) of Alloy 800. The passivity of material was improved by replacing a part of chlorides in the lead-contaminated chemistry with magnesium chloride, as indicated by: (1) a higher pitting potential; (2) lower passive current densities; (3) a film structure with less defects and more spinel oxides. According to the constant extension rate tensile (CERT) tests conducted in the neutral crevice solutions at 300 °C, lead contamination would reduce the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation of material. The CERT test results were in agreement with the fracture morphology observations. Magnesium addition significantly reduced the detrimental effect of lead contamination.