Managing Stress Corrosion Cracking

There are several methods that may be used to minimize the risk of SCC. Some of these methods include:

• Choose a material that is resistant to SCC.
• Employ proper design features for the anticipated forms of corrosion. Corrosion pits may
• produce crack initiation sites.
• Minimize stresses including thermal stresses.
• Environment modifications (pH, oxygen content).
• Use surface treatments (shot peening, laser treatments) which increase the surface resistance to SCC.
• Any barrier coatings will deter SCC as long as it remains intact.
• Reduce exposure of end grains (i.e. end grains can act as initiation sites for cracking because of preferential corrosion and/or a local stress concentration).