This practice is normally used for stress-corrosion screening for the development of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys containing less than 0.26 % copper. Effects on stress-corrosion resistance due to variables such as composition, thermo-mechanical processing, other fabrication variables, and magnitude of applied stress may be compared.

For a given mechanical method of stressing, the relative stress-corrosion resistance of the low copper Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys in atmospheric exposure correlates better with performance in boiling 6 % sodium chloride solution than with other accelerated testing media (7-9). In addition, this practice is relatively rapid.

This practice is not applicable to 2XXX (Al-Cu), 5XXX (Al-Mg), 6XXX (Al-Mg-Si), and the 7XXX (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) series alloys containing more than 1.2 % copper.

4.3.1 For 7XXX series alloys containing between 0.26 % and 1.2 % copper, there is no general agreement as to whether this practice or Practice G 44 correlates better with stress-corrosion resistance in service (5-8, 10).

1.1 This practice primarily covers the test medium which may be used with a variety of test specimens and methods of applying stress. Exposure times, criteria of failure, and so on, are variable and not specified.

1.2 This stress-corrosion testing practice is intended for statically loaded smooth non-welded or welded specimens of 7XXX series Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys containing less than 0.26 % copper.

This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See Section for additional precautions.