The Effect of Chloride Contamination on Cracking in Titanium

The morphology of salt water stress corrosion cracks in 8A1-1Mo-1V titanium alloy has been determined. In the interior of the specimens the cracks are brittle in nature and far more extensive than indicated by cracks visible at the specimen surface. The direction of propagation of the internal cracks is away from the plane of the specimen starter crack. These crack characteristics are explained in terms of internal stress state and presence of contaminants containing chlorides.