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This paper describes a study of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of alloys resulting from the synergistic action of corrodents such as chlorides, oxidants and H2S. In the this study the threshold stresses for {SCC} have been determined for a few generic alloys, namely mild steel, 316L, 317L, 430 and Monel 400, used in desalination plants. The standard Proof Rings and U-Bend samples in {NACE} and {SHELL} solutions containing {H2S} were used for this purpose. Electrochemical polarization measurements were performed on these alloys in the specified environments to study the effect of electrochemical potential on intergranular SCC. Structural analyses were conducted by scanning electron microscopy supplemented by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The test results showed that the intergranular and intragranular {SCC} fracture of mild steel and alloy 430 in a {H2S} environment occurs only in the limited potential environment, whereas the alloys 316L and 317L are immune to {SCC} under the test conditions. The alloy Monel 400 was, however, found susceptible to {SCC} in the presence of H2S, which may be present in somewhere in desalination plants due to the pollution of seawater.
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