Abstract
Wet thermal insulation may actively degrade steel and stainless steel structures by general corrosion or stress-corrosion cracking. Two different mechanisms of water ingress into insulation are discussed; flooding from external sources, and migration from condensation of atmospheric moisture. The general corrosion rate of steels under insulation is predictable (within a broad scatter band) on the basis of temperature and oxygen content. This relationship is presented graphically based on plant case histories. Rainwater, washwater and the insulation itself are compared as potential sources of chloride to promote external SCC of stainless steels. Preventative measures will be discussed.
McIntyre, D. R. (1984). Degradation of Structural Alloys Under Thermal Insulation. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /94663.