Environment-Induced Cracking of Metals, Proceedings of the International Conference (1st), Held in Kohler, Wisconsin on October 2-7, 1988

Abstract : Identification of consensus issues is undoubtedly controversial. Many of the written comments from participants suggested that no true consensus was reached on any particular aspect of environmental cracking! This camp believes that while we may have progressed somewhat in our appreciation o the various environmental cracking phenomena since the Firminy meeting, we have not reached any true understanding of the phenomena as a whole. This view proposes that continued, often unsubstantiated and qualitative, debate on the details of a variety of mechanisms hinders our progress toward material and component performance predictions. This situation, more than anything else, makes for frustration within the engineering design community. A second camp of participants concludes that substantial progress has been made since Firminy. Much of the speculation of the 1970s has been replaced by quantitative experimental evidence. Quantitative and testable models are emerging, with focus on specific embrittlement mechanisms that are relevant to classes of alloys and environments. Meaningful life predictions may be developed to include environmental cracking. The critical importance of crack chemistry and crack-tip process-zone deformation and fracture has spawned new models and experimental probes. Those with this view do not believe that all problems are solved, but rather that the field is generally on the right track. Useful information is being made available for the user, but improvements and new ideas are, of course, still required.