Cavallaro Medal Lecture 1985: Inhibitors and environment sensitive fracture

Abstract

Although there are some well known instances of inhibitors being used to control environment sensitive fracture, the application of this approach to prevention of such failure is less frequent than might be expected. This may be partly a result of some substances, identified by ad hoc tests, not having proved effective inhibitors, and there is a consequent need for a better understanding of how inhibitors operate. The problem is considered from the viewpoint of inhibiting crack tip dissolution controlled growth and hydrogen related cracking, where the requirements of inhibitors are markedly different. Consideration is given to the possibility of stopping growing cracks by the use of inhibitors and some of the dangers in applying experience from inhibiting general corrosion to the control of environment sensitive cracking are indicated.