Stress-Corrosion Cracking Background:
Industry experience has concluded that local surface hardened spots on tubulars are caused from regular carbon steel contact, die penetration, compression or through other non-tong related impact damage. These hardened spots are susceptible to embrittlement causing microscopic fractures known as stress-corrosion cracking (SCC). SCC is cracking induced from the combined influences of tensile stress and corrosive environments that can eventually lead to tubular failure. Some design specifications for chrome tubing indicate acceptable penetration of less than 5% wall thickness while Eckel and numerous oil companies desire to alleviate all tubular penetration.
