High strength bolts, nuts, studs and screws manufactured from a precipitation hardening Cu-Ni-Mn-Al alloy have experienced several failures in recent years in oilfield installations with varying degrees of severity and consequence. Such failures have been broadly attributed to Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) and Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) phenomena. A detailed test program using the Slow Strain Rate Testing (SSRT) method has been conducted to identify the various parameters which coLlld contribute to SCC. Results indicate that the Cu-Ni-Mn-Al alloy is susceptible to SCC in a variety of environments commonly found in oilfield equipment manufacturing and field installations such as
amine-containing additives, sulfides and even natural seawater at
elevated temperatures, SSRT testing indicated, however, that, in seawater environments, low service temperatures and cathodic protection did not adversely affect the alloy’s performance. Discussion of test program results and qualitative col-relations with field failures are presented.
Keywords:Bolts,StressCorrosionCracking,Failures, Liquid Metal Embrittlement, Cu-Alloys, Slow StrainRateTesting