Case Studies of Steel and their Welded Joint Failures Caused by LME

Liquid metal embrittlement ( LME ) is a phenomenon , where liquid (molten ) metal is mostly intergranulary (but not only ) penetrated into solid metal and causes its brittle fracture. The LME is usually related to low melting metals (zink, tin , cadmium ...) ,which are in the contact with higher molten ones ( steels, Ni alloys...). Cases of LME as a Cu penetration into pipeline welded joint of 15G2S steel ,a hot temperature corrosion in the cement works shell plate made of AISI 310 stainless steel attacted by Ni3S2 (Ts= 644°C) and a vanadium corrosion in the boiler vessel (10CrMo9-10 steel) due to V2O5 + Na2SO4 eutecticum (~600°C ) are concerned.