This paper addresses the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) problem in the 400 series
stainless steel wear rings installed on the pump impeller. The results from the study indicate that the
engineering design, the metallurgical heat treatment and the raw water chemical content all contribute to
IGSCC problem. The tight interference fit between the ring and the impeller caused high residual stress.
The heat treatment of the material at the specified temperatures provided the desirable hardness but also
creating weak corrosion resistance near the grain boundary areas. High chloride content was found in the
reservoir water serviced by the pump. Failure analysis and evaluation were performed on the failed
parts. Samples from the impeller wearing rings were sent to laboratory for examinations. Alternatives
and proposals resolving the intergranular stress corrosion cracking problem are discussed.