Failure Analysis for Fracture of Stainless Steel Adjustable Connecting Rod

A 304 stainless steel adjustable connecting rod fractured. The reasons for fracture failure of the connecting rod were analyzed by means of macroscopic morphology examination, microscopic morphology examination, microstructure analysis, chemical composition examination and energy spectrum analysis. The results show that the fracture of the connecting rod was caused by stress corrosion cracking. Excessive carbon content in material of connecting rod, service environment containing sulfides and chloride ions, and tensile stress during operation were the main causes of the stress corrosion in stainless steel.