SSH EN 14101:2001

Space product assurance - Material selection for controlling stress-corrosion cracking

Scope

This European Standard sets forth the criteria to be used in the selection of materials for spacecraft and associated equipment and facilities so that failure resulting from stress-corrosion is prevented.
Three categories of materials are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of this Standard. They represent metal alloys with a high, moderate and low resistance to stress-corrosion cracking.
The stress-corrosion susceptibility of alloys included in this Standard was determined at ambient temperature
- by means of laboratory tests in which specimens were either sprayed with salt water or periodically immersed and withdrawn;
- by exposing specimens in sea coast or mild industrial environments;
- by subjecting fabricated hardware to service conditions.
Use of the criteria established herein should, therefore, be limited to designs for service involving similar exposure conditions.
Weldments present a special problem in designing for resistance to stress-corrosion cracking. In addition to the susceptibility of the parent metals, it is also necessary to consider the filler metal and the microstructural effects of heat introduced by the welding operations and subsequent heat treatments. Because of the additional variables that shall be considered, susceptibility data are not as extensive for weldments as for alloys in mill form. Design criteria for weldments in this Standard are limited to aluminium alloys, selected stainless steels in the 300 series and other specific alloys listed in Table 1.
This Standard is intended to provide general criteria to be used in designing for resistance to stress-corrosion cracking. Specific test data and other detailed information are not included.