Development of a Stress Corrosion Test Specimen for Determining the Stress Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum 5XXX Marine Alloys

ASTM Task Group B07.03/G01.09 needed a stress corrosion test specimen for relating nitric acid mass losses (ASTM G67) cited in ASTM B928  to stress corrosion resistance in marine environments. (Note:  ASTM B928 was established in 2004, following an inspection survey in 2002 of several boats exhibiting SC cracks in hull and deck plates of 5083-H321. B928 is intent is to prevent use of alloy/tempers that are not shown to be resistant to intergranular corrosion.)

          This paper describes how a preform/stressed specimen configuration was found to serve this purpose.

          Results of Point Loma, CA atmospheric tests of preformed samples of sensitized 5083-H321 in both sheet and plate thicknesses are provided.

          This lead to the ASTM Task Group current use of a modified preform specimen configuration (U-bend) for more extensive SC tests of 5XXX alloys with varying mass loss values.