ECSS--Q--70--37A

20 January 1998

EUROPEAN COOPERATION

ECSS
FOR SPACE STANDARDIZATION

Space Product
Assurance

Determination of the susceptibility of

metals to stress-corrosion cracking

ECSS Secretariat
ESA--ESTEC
Requirements & Standards Division
Noordwijk, The Netherlands
ECSS--Q--70--37A
20 January 1998 ECSS

Published by: ESA Publications Division

ESTEC, P.O. Box 299,
2200 AG Noordwijk,
The Netherlands
Price: DFl 35
Printed in the Netherlands
Copyright 1998 E by the European Space Agency for the members of ECSS

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Foreword

This standard is one of the series of ECSS Standards intended to be applied to-
gether for the management, engineering and product assurance in space projects
and applications. ECSS is a cooperative effort of the European Space Agency,
National Space Agencies and European industry associations for the purpose of
developing and maintaining common standards.
Requirements in this standard are defined in terms of what must be accom-
plished, rather than in terms of how to organise and perform the necessary work.
This allows existing organisational structures and methods to be applied where
they are effective, and for the structures and methods to evolve as necessary with-
out rewriting the standards.
The formulation of this standard takes into account the existing ISO 9000 family
of documents.
This standard has been prepared by editing ESA PSS--01--737, reviewed by the
ECSS Technical Panel and approved by the ECSS Steering Board.

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Contents list

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2 Normative references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3 Definitions and abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2 Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

4 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

5 Preparatory conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

5.1 Types of samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

5.2 Details of test specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.3 Conditions for test apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

6 Test method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

6.1 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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7 Acceptance criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

7.1 Test stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

7.2 Metallographic examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
7.3 Assessment of stress-corrosion susceptibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

8 Quality assurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

8.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.2 Test report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Annex A (normative) Treatment of specimens during and after

thirty-day test period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

A.1 Case A - No stress-corrosion specimen fails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

A.2 Case B - One stress-corrosion specimen fails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A.3 Case C - Two stress-corrosion specimens fail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
A.4 Case D - All three stress-corrosion specimens fail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Annex B (informative) Preferred design of test apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Figures

Figure 1: Preferred turned stress-corrosion test specimen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Figure 2: Preferred flat stress-corrosion test specimen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Figure B-1: Cross-section of stress-corrosion jig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Figure B-2: Support frame for stress-corrosion jig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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Scope

This document defines the preferred way to determine the susceptibility of metals
and weldments to stress--corrosion cracking by alternate immersion in 3,5 % so-
dium chloride under constant load.
The results obtained from test programmes made according to this specification
are used to classify alloys, weldments and their individual heat treatment condi-
tions. When sufficient stress--corrosion data exists the alloy designations may be
submitted for inclusion into the various tables contained in ECSS--Q--70--36.

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Normative references

This ECSS Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from

other publications. These normative references are cited at the appropriate
places in the text and publications are listed hereafter. For dated references,
subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these apply to this ECSS Stan-
dard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated refer-
ences the latest edition of the publication referred to applies.

ECSS--P--001 Glossary of terms

ECSS Q--70 Space product assurance -- Materials, mechanical parts
and processes
ECSS Q--70--36 Space product assurance -- Material selection for control-
ling stress-corrosion cracking
ASTM G44--94 Standard Practice for Evaluating Stress Corrosion Crack-
ing Resistance of Metals and Alloys by Alternate Immer-
sion in 3.5% Sodium Chloride Solution
ASTM G38--73 Standard Practice for Making and Using C-Ring Stress-
(1995)e1 Corrosion Test Specimens
ASTM G39--90 Standard Practice for Preparation and Use of Bent-Beam
(1994)e1 Stress-Corrosion Test Specimens
DIN 50908 Testing the resistance of aluminium wrought alloys to
1993--04 stress corrosion cracking

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Definitions and abbreviations

3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the definitions given in ECSS--P--001 apply.
The following terms and definitions are specific to this standard and shall be ap-
plied.
Residual strength (see 6.1 e)
Apparent UTS based upon nominal cross-sectional area

3.2 Abbreviations
The following abbreviations are defined and used within this standard.
Abbreviation Meaning
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
CLA Centre line average
i.d. inside diameter
o.d. outside diameter
PVC polyvinyl chloride
pH hydrogen--ion concentration
SC Stress--corrosion
UTS Ultimate tensile strength

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General

This specification covers constant-load stress--corrosion testing of metal speci-

mens taken from welded or unwelded material. It is primarily intended for testing
aluminium and ferrous alloys. The tests are carried out under alternate immer-
sion conditions in 3,5 % sodium chloride over a thirty-day exposure period.
Unstressed control specimens are exposed to the same environment to provide a
basis for comparison in assessing stress--corrosion susceptibility of materials that
survive thirty days in the stress--corrosion test. This susceptibility is assessed by
tensile tests, to compare the residual strengths of the exposed specimens, stressed
and unstressed, and by metallographic examination of microsections from
stressed and unstressed exposed specimens, to distinguish between stress--cor-
rosion and intergranular --corrosion or pitting occurring independent of stress.
The requirements for the apparatus used for carrying out the test are set out in
subclause 5.3 -- Conditions for test apparatus. Details of the preferred apparatus
are given in annex B but may be varied provided that the requirements set out
in subclause 5.3 are met.
Some wrought alloys commonly show greatest susceptibility to stress--corrosion
when stressed in the short transverse direction. When such materials are to be
subject to short transverse stressing in service, stress--corrosion tests shall be car-
ried out under tensile stress applied in the short transverse direction. The test
method covered by this specification is suitable for such tests provided that the
dimensions of the material to be tested will provide short transverse specimens
with a gauge length not less than 10 mm long. For other material short transverse
stress--corrosion tests shall be carried out using C-ring specimens, bent-beam
specimens or “tuning fork” specimens as described in ASTM G38--73(1995)e1,
ASTM G39--90(1994)e1, or DIN 50908.

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Preparatory conditions

5.1 Types of samples

a. Samples shall be tested in the form of tensile test specimens which may be
either turned bars or special specimens machined from flat material as
specified in subclause 5.2 -- Details of test specimens.
b. Test specimens shall be produced so that the direction of the test stress
appropriately represents the direction of stress in service. When
stress--corrosion tests are being carried out on wrought aluminium alloys for
general classification purposes, the stress--corrosion test specimens shall,
where possible, be cut so that the stress will be applied in the short transverse
direction.
c. For tests on welded material the welds shall be made according to the
specification laid down for the equipment or component to which the
stress--corrosion tests relate, and the test specimens shall be cut so that the
weld is situated at the centre of the gauge length. In tests using flat
specimens the surface of the sample is machined to remove the weld bead --
giving a smooth surface for the full gauge length of the specimen.
d. The specimens subjected to stress--corrosion tests shall be cut from material
in the same condition (heat treatment, or room temperature ageing after
solution treatment or welding) as the components that will be used in service.
e. The material designation, actual composition, grain size and orientation and
heat treatment condition shall appear on all documentation relating to the
test specimens.

5.2 Details of test specimens

Where the shape and size of the material to be tested permits, a turned specimen
of the type shown in Figure 1 is preferred. The diameter of the parallel end pieces
and the form of thread can be made to suit the shackles of the tensile test machine
and the stress--corrosion apparatus but should not be less than 10 mm diameter.
The gauge length of 50 mm shown in Figure 1 is suitable for unwelded material
and for most weldments; for welded specimens it shall extend at least 10 mm be-
yond the heat affected zone on each side of the weld. The plain parallel portion
of the test piece between the threaded end and the shoulder is provided to facili-
tate sealing the bottom of the surrounding cell to the test piece and to provide lati-
tude in adjusting the solution level within the cell to come above the gauge length
but below the top shackle.

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When specimens are to be taken from material less than 12 mm thick, flat speci-
mens of the type shown in Figure 2 shall be used. The specimen is machined to
a thickness of 5 mm giving a cross section of 50 mm2 in the gauge length. The
gauge length requirements shall be as for the machined specimens shown in Fig-
ure 1. The dimensions of the end sections shown in Figure 2 are suitable for use
with 10 mm diameter shackle pins in the tensile test machine and stress--cor-
rosion jigs. They may be altered to suit the test apparatus available but it is essen-
tial that the width of the end section shall be at least 20 mm greater than the di-
ameter of the shackle-pin hole; otherwise failures may occur across the centre line
of the shackle-pin instead of in the gauge length.
The specimens shall be machined to a finish of 0,5 micron CLA or better, the edges
of flat specimens being slightly radiused by careful abrasion with fine silicon car-
bide paper (1 200 grade).
NOTE Polishing papers that contain oxides of iron shall not be used for
this purpose as they can accelerate pitting during exposure of
the specimen to the saline solution.
When short transverse specimens are required, the dimensions shown in Fig-
ure 1 and Figure 2 will usually have to be reduced. This is permissible provided
that the gauge length of the modified specimen is not less than 10 mm. The dimen-
sions shall also provide a minimum length of 10 mm between the gauge length
and threaded portions of turned specimens and a minimum of 10 mm all round
the shackle-pin holes of flat specimens.

5.3 Conditions for test apparatus

5.3.1 Preferred test apparatus
Details of the preferred design of test apparatus are given in annex B. This util-
izes the compression of a precalibrated spring to apply the desired axial tensile
stress to the specimen under test. The specimen is surrounded by an open-topped
cell which is flooded with 3,5 % sodium chloride solution for ten minutes in each
hour. Failure of the specimen is automatically recorded by the operation of a
microswitch beneath the lower specimen support plate.

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d M D
Æ8 M10 Æ10
S On both ends
Æ8 M12 Æ12

S
0,5
170

Section S/S
A R 1,5 0,5
(Typ.)
d ±0,02

Æ8,5
D ±0,02

3,5 1,5 x 45°

60

23,5

Notes:
Overall geometric tolerances
1. Remove all sharp edges
General dimensions : Js13; js13
2. The specimen should be fully symetric Surface roughness : 1,6 µmm
3. Sample identification by 1 to 9 Cylindricity : 0,01
Letter height is 1,5 and location is marked Symetry : 0,1
Concentricity : 0,03 A
4. Dimensions of drawing in mm and not to scale

Figure 1: Preferred turned stress--corrosion test specimen

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Section A/A
B
S
180

50

140

A A
0,5

10
t
50

20

30

Notes:
Overall geometric tolerances
1. Remove all sharp edges
General dimensions : Js13; js13
2. The specimen should be fully symetric Surface roughness : 1,6 µmm
3. Sample identification by 1 to 9 Flatness : 0,05/100
Number height is 3,5 and location is marked Parallelism : 0,02/100 S and B
Perpendicularity : 0,02 B
4. t; Thickness typically 5 mm. However could vary according Symetry : 0,02
to product thickness and testing device loading capability
5. Dimensions of drawing in mm and not to scale

Figure 2: Preferred flat stress--corrosion test specimen

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5.3.2 Alternative test apparatus

Alternative designs of apparatus may be employed provided that the following
conditions shall be satisfied:
a. The characteristics of the spring shall be such that slight yielding or creep
of the specimen during the thirty-day test will not significantly alter the load
applied by the spring. This is achieved in the preferred test apparatus by
employing springs requiring a compression of about 50 mm to produce a
typical desired load. Other springs may be used which require a compression
of between 30 and 70 mm to produce the desired load.
b. The load shall be applied to the specimen through shackles which provide
automatic alignment so that the applied tensile stress is axial with respect
to the specimen.
c. Provision shall be made for automatic recording of the time of failure of the
stress--corrosion specimen.
d. The dimensions of the cells surrounding the stress--corrosion specimens and
the unstressed control specimens shall be such that the surface of the sodium
chloride solution is above the top of the gauge length of the specimen, but
below the top shackle, when the cell is flooded and the gauge length shall dry
out during the fifty-minute interval between successive ten-minute periods.
e. Suitable arrangements shall be made to seal the bottom of the cell to the
specimen below the gauge length or to the lower shackle and to protect the
shackle against contact with the solution.
f. A separate reservoir containing 1 litre of the 3,5 % sodium chloride solution
shall be provided for each pair of specimens (one stress--corrosion specimen
and one unstressed control).
g. The arrangement for alternately flooding and draining the cells surrounding
the specimens may be a mechanical device which automatically raises and
lowers the solution reservoir or a pneumatic device as in the preferred
apparatus.

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Test method

6.1 Procedure
a. Nine flat or turned tensile test specimens as detailed in subclause 5.2 -- “ De-
tails of test specimens” -- are required for the test. Three are used to deter-
mine the initial tensile properties of the material. Three are loaded in tension
to the required stress (see subclause 7.1 -- “Test stress”) in a spring loaded test
jig which provides an axial constant load. Detailed requirements for the test
jigs are given in subclause 5.3 -- “Conditions for test apparatus”. Each stress--
corrosion specimen is surrounded by a cell which is flooded with 3,5 % sodium
chloride for ten minutes in each hour. A timing device is connected to a micro-
switch operated by the displacement of the jig which occurs when the speci-
men breaks.
b. The third set of three specimens is used for unstressed controls. These speci-
mens are supported vertically in individual cells of the same type as those
which surround the stress--corrosion specimens, the cells being flooded with
the same solution and at the same times as the stress--corrosion specimen
cells.
c. The 3,5 % sodium chloride test solution is made to ASTM G44--94 “Standard
Practice for Evaluating Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Metals and
Alloys by Alternate Immersion in 3.5% Sodium Chloride Solution”. One litre
of solution is provided for each pair of specimens and is replaced after seven,
fourteen and twenty-one days.
d. When any of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails it is removed from the
test rig, washed with warm water and dried in a stream of warm air. The
corresponding unstressed control specimen is taken out at the same time and
similarly washed and dried. Both are then stored in a desiccator until all
three stress--corrosion specimens have failed or the thirty-day test period has
been completed.
e. When the tests have been completed the unstressed control specimens corre-
sponding to any stress--corrosion specimens that failed during the test should
be tensile tested, according to subclause 6.1 g., h. and i., to determine their
residual strength. Comparison of the residual strength of the unstressed con-
trol with that of the specimens tested initially and with the stress applied in
the stress--corrosion test will indicate to what extent the failure of the stress--
corrosion specimen was due to stress--corrosion cracking and to what extent
it was due to other forms of corrosion occurring independently of applied
stress.

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f. If none of the stress--corrosion specimens fails during the thirty-day test
period two of them, and their corresponding unstressed controls, are tensile
tested and submitted for metallographic examination. If any stress--cor-
rosion cracking has occurred the residual strength of the stress--corrosion
specimens will be less than that of the corresponding unstressed controls.
The third stress--corrosion specimen and its unstressed control are used for
metallographic examination without tensile testing. (see annex A case A).
g. If one of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails during the thirty-day test,
tensile tests are carried out at the end of the test period on the corresponding
unstressed control, on one of the two unfailed stressed specimens and on its
unstressed control. The third stress--corrosion specimen and its unstressed
control are used for metallographic examination without tensile testing (see
annex A case B).
h. If two of the three stress--corrosion specimens fail during the thirty-day test
the remaining unfailed stressed specimen and its unstressed control are used
for metallographic examination without tensile testing. Only the unstressed
control specimens for the stress--corrosion specimens that failed are tensile
tested (see annex A case C).
i. If all three of the stress--corrosion specimens fail during the thirty-day test
they are submitted to metallographic examination. The first two unstressed
control specimens to be withdrawn are tensile tested and then used for metal-
lographic examination. The last unstressed control specimen to be with-
drawn is not to be tensile tested, but will be metallographically examined (see
annex A case D).
j. Axial microsections across the full thickness are prepared from all the stress--
corrosion and unstressed control specimens. From those which failed during
the test, or were broken in subsequent tensile testing, the microsection shall
extend from the fracture surface for a distance of at least 20 mm. For welded
specimens the total length of the microsection shall extend at least 5 mm into
the parent metal beyond the heat affected zone. Two adjacent microsections
may be prepared if necessary to cover this length. For unbroken specimens,
the longitudinal microsection shall extend from one side of the centre of the
gauge length for a distance of at least 10 mm or (for welded specimens) to a
point 5 mm beyond the heat affected zone. The microsections are mounted
and polished for metallographic examination as specified in subclause 7.2.
k. The operations to be carried out during and at the end of the thirty-day test
period shall be set out in tabular form in annex A for examples in which differ-
ent numbers of stress--corrosion specimens fail during the test period.
l. The criteria for assessment of stress--corrosion susceptibility from tests car-
ried out according to this specification shall be set out in subclause 7.3.

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Acceptance criteria

7.1 Test stress

a. For unwelded material the stress--corrosion test load is calculated from the
average 0,2 % proof stress value provided by the three specimens tensile
tested initially. To enable classification of materials according to subclause
7.3 tests shall be carried out at 75 % of the 0,2 % proof stress. Materials that
have been characterised to possess a medium or low resistance to stress-cor-
rosion cracking may be further tested to establish their stress--corrosion
threshold. When these materials are loaded in the short transverse direction
in service under conditions where the load can be controlled, tests at 50 % of
the proof stress or even lower values may be called for.
b. For welded specimens the stress--corrosion test load should not exceed 75 %
of the proof stress of the welded test bar but, since yielding in welded test bars
occurs usually in the weld bead, the proof stress for such specimens depends
upon the ratio of weld bead width to gauge length. The selection of the test
stress should, therefore, be related to the nominal proof stress of the parent
metal and to the design stress -- making due allowance for possible assembly
stresses. It is best expressed in absolute units rather than as a percentage.

7.2 Metallographic examination

a. The longitudinal microsections, taken as described in subclause 6.1 j., shall
be mounted, ground and polished by normal metallographic procedures and
shall be examined initially at a magnification of X50 for evidence of stress--
corrosion cracking. When they exist, the maximum depth of pits shall be re-
corded. Stress--corrosion cracks can initiate from these pits.
b. In aluminium alloys stress--corrosion cracks generally follow intergranular
paths. Any apparent cracks shall be examined in greater detail at X500
magnification to establish whether they are true stress--corrosion cracks
running through virtually uncorroded metal or tensile cracks running
through areas of intergranular corrosion.
c. The characterisation of a crack as due to stress--corrosion is facilitated by
comparison of microsections taken from the specimens tested, stressed and
unstressed. Any cracking found in the unstressed control specimens exam-
ined after tensile testing is probably not due to stress--corrosion, and similar
cracking observed in the corresponding stress--corrosion specimens cannot
be considered to be due solely to the stress--corrosion test.

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7.3 Assessment of stress-corrosion susceptibility
The materials tested shall be classified as showing resistance to stress--corrosion;
either:
D high;
D moderate; or
D low.

7.3.1 Class 1
Alloys or weldments show high resistance to stress--corrosion if:
a. none of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails in the thirty-day test. Any
failure is disregarded if the tensile strength of the unstressed control speci-
men removed from test at the time of failure of the stress--corrosion specimen
does not exceed the stress--corrosion test stress; and
b. the average tensile strength of two of the three stress--corrosion specimens
after the thirty-day test is not less than 90 % of that of the unstressed control
specimens; and
c. none of the three stress--corrosion specimens shows evidence of stress--cor-
rosion on metallographic examination at X50 magnification.

7.3.2 Class 2
Alloys or weldments show moderate resistance to stress--corrosion if:
a. none of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails in the thirty-day test. Any
failure is disregarded if the tensile strength of the unstressed control speci-
men removed from test at the time of failure of the stress--corrosion specimen
does not exceed the stress--corrosion test stress; and
b. the average tensile strength of the two stress--corrosion specimens after the
thirty-day test is not less than 90 % of that of the unstressed control speci-
mens; and
c. metallographic examination at X50 magnification shows evidence of stress--
corrosion in any of the three stress--corrosion specimens.

7.3.3 Class 3
Alloys or weldments show low resistance to stress--corrosion if:
a. any of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails in the thirty-day test at a
test stress below the tensile strength of the unstressed control specimen re-
moved from test when the stress--corrosion specimen fails; and
b. the average tensile strength of the stress--corrosion specimens after the
thirty-day test is less than 90 % of that of the unstressed control specimens;
and
c. metallographic examination at X50 magnification shows evidence of stress--
corrosion.

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Quality assurance

8.1 General
The measurement and test equipment used shall be calibrated using standards
traceable to national standards and used in an environment controlled to an ex-
tent to ensure valid measurements. Any nonconformance on equipment, material
or test specimen shall be recorded and reported in the test report.

8.2 Test report

On completion of the test a test report shall be prepared with the following data
and information:

8.2.1 Material
D material specification, form, actual composition and condition (e.g. grain
orientation, heat treatment);
D material identification code (e.g. manufacturers’ batch number);
D for welded material, details of weld process, filler metal composition and
post-weld heat treatment or natural ageing period are also required.

8.2.2 Specimens
D type;
D dimensions;
D grain size; and
D grain orientation.

8.2.3 Test conditions

D stress level.

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20 January 1998 ECSS
8.2.4 Results
D Lives of stress--corrosion specimens;
D 0,2 % proof stress and tensile strength of all specimens subjected to tensile
testing;
D Metallographic observations for the:
S stress--corrosion specimens; and
S unstressed control specimens.

8.2.5 Assessment
Classification of material tested as showing high, moderate or low resistance to
stress--corrosion.

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ECSS 20 January 1998

Annex A (normative)

Treatment of specimens during and after

thirty-day test period

A.1 Case A - No stress-corrosion specimen fails

Specimen Thirty-day Final tests after thirty days
exposure
A1 initial
A2 mechanical
h i l test
t t
specimens
A3
A4 stress-corrosion 30 days OK Mechanical test Metallography
A5 specimens
i 30 days OK Mechanical test Metallography
A6 30 days OK ® Metallography
A7 unstressed Mechanical test Metallography
A8 control
t l Mechanical test Metallography
specimens
A9 ® Metallography

A.2 Case B - One stress-corrosion specimen fails

Specimen Thirty-day Final tests after thirty days
exposure
B1 initial
B2 mechanical
h i l test
t t
specimens
B3
B4 stress-corrosion 20 days fail ® Metallography
B5 specimens
i 30 days OK Mechanical test Metallography
B6 30 days OK ® Metallography
B7 unstressed Withdrawn after Mechanical test Metallography
control 20 days
B8 specimens
i Mechanical test Metallography
B9 ® Metallography

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20 January 1998 ECSS

A.3 Case C - Two stress-corrosion specimens fail

Specimen Thirty-day Final tests after thirty days
exposure
C1 initial
C2 mechanical
h i l test
t t
specimens
C3
C4 stress-corrosion 20 days fail ® Metallography
C5 specimens
i 15 days fail ® Metallography
C6 30 days OK ® Metallography
C7 unstressed Withdrawn after Mechanical test Metallography
control 20 days
C8 specimens
i Withdrawn after Mechanical test Metallography
15 days
C9 ® Metallography

A.4 Case D - All three stress-corrosion specimens fail

Specimen Thirty-day Final tests after thirty days
exposure
D1 initial
D2 mechanical
h i l test
t t
specimens
D3
D4 stress-corrosion 20 days fail ® Metallography
D5 specimens
i 15 days fail ® Metallography
D6 12 days fail ® Metallography
D7 unstressed Withdrawn after ® Metallography
control 20 days
D8 specimens
i Withdrawn after Mechanical test Metallography
15 days
D9 Withdrawn after Mechanical test Metallography
12 days

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 ECSS--Q--70--37A
ECSS 20 January 1998

Annex B (informative)

Preferred design of test apparatus

A--A--
B--B--

1. Figure B--1 is an exploded sectional assembly drawing of the preferred ap-

paratus for testing according to this specification. The tubular frame
which forms the central member is a 350 mm length of 100 mm o.d. by 3
mm wall steel tube with a window 200 mm long by 125 mm wide machined
in each side.
2. The bottom of the tubular frame is fitted with a bottom closure plate
carrying a 125 mm length of 20 mm studding held by a securing nut at
the bottom and screwing into a specimen outer shackle at the top. The op-
posite end of the outer shackle has a vertical slot 10 mm wide by 55 mm
deep which engages with a tongue at the bottom end of the inner shackle.
A 10 mm diameter steel pin holds the two shackles together and permits
slight movement between them to maintain axial loading.
3. For use with threaded specimens of the type shown in Figure 1 the top
of the inner shackle is drilled and tapped 12 mm. For use with the flat type
specimen shown in Figure 2 the top of the inner shackle is slotted to re-
ceive the end of the specimen and a 10 mm diameter hole is drilled
through to accept a shackle pin which passes through the hole in the end
of the specimen.
4. The top end of the tubular frame is fitted with a top closure plate with a
plain central hole in which a 500 mm length of 20 mm studding is a sliding
fit. The length of studding carries a keyway which engages with a grub
screw in the top closure plate to prevent the studding turning in relation
to the plate during loading. The lower end of the length of studding screws
into the outer member of a pair of shackles similar to those at the bottom
of the jig.
5. The compression spring which provides the load to be applied to the speci-
men is located between the top closure plate and a spring end plate which
is a sliding fit on the studding. Both plates have spigots to locate the
spring and the ends of the spring are ground flat to seat squarely on the
two plates.
6. The spring is compressed by means of a tensioning nut which operates
against a thrust race. Between the thrust race and the spring end plate
is a cross piece supporting two hook bolts the lower ends of which engage
in the windows in the sides of the tubular frame. These are provided to
limit the expansion of the spring when the specimen breaks.

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ECSS--Q--70--37A
20 January 1998 ECSS
7. The compression spring shall be selected to suit the load that is to be ap-
plied to the test specimen. For testing high and medium strength alumin-
ium alloy specimens of the dimension shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2,
springs with ten turns of 15 mm diameter steel having a total free length
of 150 mm and an outside diameter of 105 mm have proved satisfactory.
These springs produce a load of 20 kg for each 10 mm of compression and
require a compression of about 50 mm to provide a typical desired load.
8. A tensile test machine is used to plot a calibration curve of load against
compression for each spring. The calibration curves are used to calculate
the compression required to apply the desired load to the test specimen.
Centre punch marks are made on the top and bottom turns of the spring
and the compression measured by locating the points of a pair of dividers
in these marks.
9. The test specimen is surrounded by an alternate immersion cell details
of which are given in step 14 to 16.
10. To use the stress--corrosion test jig the parts are assembled with the ex-
ception of the top and bottom inner shackle. The specimen is fitted to the
shackles and the alternate immersion test cell fixed in place. If flat speci-
mens are used the part of the lower shackle which comes within the cell
is coated with a suitable sealant (Warning: avoid sealants which may
produce corrosive chemical species during curing, e.g. acetic curing sili-
cones). The specimen, with the inner shackles and alternate immersion
cell in place, is fitted into the test rig and located by inserting the pins
which secure the inner shackles to the outer shackles. The tensioning nut
is screwed down to take up the slack and a check is made to see that all
the parts of the jig are correctly positioned so that the specimen will be
under axial load when the spring is compressed.
11. The specimen is loaded to the required stress by compressing the spring
to the appropriate length measured between the centre punch marks
upon it. This may be done by holding the top closure plate by means of a
peg spanner fitted into holes drilled in the plate for that purpose and
screwing down the tensioning nut against the thrust race. It is more con-
venient however to use a simple hydraulic jack type of loading device act-
ing between the bottom closure plate and the spring end plate to compress
the spring to the desired extent and then screw down the tensioning nut
to retain the spring in that position when the loading device is removed.
After loading the specimen the nuts on the restraining hook bolts are
screwed down finger tight.
12. After loading, the jig is suspended vertically by passing the upper part of
the 500 mm length of 20 mm studding through a hole in a suitable frame
as shown in Figure B--2 and fitting a nut above the suspension plate of the
frame. The frame incorporates a tray which is situated about 10 mm
below the bottom closure plate of the stress--corrosion jig and has a central
hole through which the lower securing nut of the jig passes freely. A
microswitch is attached to the tray so that this movement will alter the
switch condition when the specimen breaks and the bottom closure plate
drops. The microswitch is connected to an electrical timer which is started
at the commencement of the thirty-day test period and stops automati-
cally when the specimen breaks, thus recording its life.
13. The stress--corrosion tests are carried out in triplicate -- three similar un-
stressed control specimens being tested at the same time. The unstressed
controls are supported vertically in spare inner shackles similar to those
used in the stress--corrosion jigs and are surrounded by similar alternate
immersion cells, but their top ends are free.

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 ECSS--Q--70--37A
ECSS 20 January 1998

14. The alternate immersion cell comprises a transparent rigid plastic tube
60 mm i.d. fitted into a moulded PVC lower end cap which forms a seal
onto the lower, plain end-portion of the specimen if threaded-end speci-
mens are used. If flat specimens are used it is difficult to get a satisfactory
seal on the specimen itself; the seal is then made on the inner shackle. The
parts of the shackle within the PVC end cap and the gap between the end
of the specimen and the slot in the shackle shall then be sealed with a suit-
able compound.
15. A 5 mm diameter tube moulded into the bottom of the end cap is connected
to a flask containing 1 l of 3,5 % sodium chloride the pH of which is ad-
justed to between 6,4 and 7,2 as specified in ASTM G44--94 “Standard
Practice for Evaluating Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Metals
and Alloys by Alternate Immersion in 3.5% Sodium Chloride Solution”.
Each flask serves two specimens, a stress--corrosion specimen and its un-
stressed control.
16. A pneumatic device operated by an electrical timer pressurizes the flask
at fixed intervals causing the sodium chloride solution to flood into the
cells surrounding the stressed and unstressed specimens for ten minutes
in each hour. The maximum liquid level in the cell is set to come above the
gauge length but below the bottom of the top inner shackle.

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ECSS--Q--70--37A
20 January 1998 ECSS

500 mm x 20 mm studding

Tensioning nut

Thrust race
Cross piece
Spring end plate

Compression spring
Retaining hook bolt

Retaining hook bolt

Keyway in studding engages

Grub screw preventing
twisting of specimen during loading

Top closure plate

Specimen shackles

Tubular frame

Specimen shackles
for flat specimens

Inner shackle for

threaded specimens Bottom closure plate
Securing nut

125 mm x 20 mm studding

Figure B--1: Cross-section of stress--corrosion jig

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 ECSS--Q--70--37A
ECSS 20 January 1998

Support plate

Loaded SC jig

Microswitch

Lower tray

Figure B--2: Support frame for stress--corrosion jig

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 ECSS--Q--70--37A
ECSS 20 January 1998

ECSS Document Improvement Proposal

1. Document I.D. 2. Document Date 3. Document Title
ECSS--Q--70--37A 20 January 1998 Determination of the
susceptibility of metals to
stress--corrosion cracking
4. Recommended Improvement (identify clauses, subclauses and include modified text
and/or graphic, attach pages as necessary)

5. Reason for Recommendation

6. Originator of recommendation
Name: Organization:
Address: Phone: 7. Date of Submission:
Fax:
E--Mail:

8. Send to ECSS Secretariat

Name: Address: Phone: +31--71--565--3952
W. Kriedte Keplerlaan 1 Fax: +31--71--565--6839
ESA--TOS/QR 2200AG Noordwijk E--Mail: [email protected]
Netherlands
Note: The originator of the submission should complete items 4, 5, 6 and 7.
This form is available as a Word and Wordperfect--Template on internet under
http://www.estec.esa.nl/ecss/improve/

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20 January 1998 ECSS

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