Corrosion and Leakage Reason of an Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipe

Metallography, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the reasons of the leakage for a stainless steel pipe in certain project. The results indicated that the corrosive character was pitting corrosion. The corrosion reasons were that the content of nonmetal inclusions in the pipe was higher than the normal level, the medium in the pipe included harmful elements such as S and Cl, and the pipe was not properly maintained in operations. Some improvement ways and means are suggested.