5.1 The slow strain rate test is used for relatively rapid screening or comparative evaluation, or both, of environmental, processing or metallurgical variables, or both, that can affect the resistance of a material to EAC. For example, this testing technique has been used to evaluate materials, heat treatments, chemical constituents in the environment, and temperature and chemical inhibitors.

5.2 Where possible, the application of the SSR test and data derived from its use should be used in combination with service experience or long-term EAC data, or both, obtained through literature sources or additional testing using other testing techniques. In applications where there has been little or no prior experience with SSR testing or little EAC data on the particular material/environment combination of interest, the following steps are recommended:

5.2.1 The SSR tests should be conducted over a range of applied extension rates (that is, usually at least one order of magnitude in applied extension rate above and below 10⁻⁶ in./s (2.54 × 10^–5 mm/s) to determine the effect of strain rate or rate of increase of the stress or stress intensity factor on susceptibility to EAC.

5.2.2 Constant load or strain EAC tests should also be conducted in simulated service environments, and service experience should be obtained so that a correlation between SSR test results and anticipated service performance can be developed.

5.3 In many cases the SSR test has been found to be a conservative test for EAC. Therefore, it may produce failures in the laboratory under conditions which do not necessarily cause EAC under service application. Additionally, in some limited cases, EAC indications are not found in smooth tension SSR tests even when service failures have been observed. This effect usually occurs when there is a delay in the initiation of localized corrosion processes. Therefore, the suggestions given in 5.2 are strongly encouraged.

5.4 In some cases, EAC will only occur in a specific range of strain rates. Therefore, where there is little prior information available, tests should be conducted over a range of strain rates as discussed in 5.2.

1.1 This practice covers procedures for the design, preparation, and use of axially loaded, tension test specimens and fatigue pre-cracked (fracture mechanics) specimens for use in slow strain rate (SSR) tests to investigate the resistance of metallic materials to environmentally assisted cracking (EAC). While some investigators utilize SSR test techniques in combination with cyclic or fatigue loading, no attempt has been made to incorporate such techniques into this practice.

1.2 Slow strain rate testing is applicable to the evaluation of a wide variety of metallic materials in test environments which simulate aqueous, nonaqueous, and gaseous service environments over a wide range of temperatures and pressures that may cause EAC of susceptible materials.

1.3 The primary use of this practice is to furnish accepted procedures for the accelerated testing of the resistance of metallic materials to EAC under various environmental conditions. In many cases, the initiation of EAC is accelerated through the application of a dynamic strain in the gauge section or at a notch tip or crack tip, or both, of a specimen. Due to the accelerated nature of this test, the results are not intended to necessarily represent service performance, but rather to provide a basis for screening, for detection of an environmental interaction with a material, and for comparative evaluation of the effects of metallurgical and environmental variables on sensitivity to known environmental cracking problems.

1.4 Further information on SSR test methods is available in ISO 7539 and in the references provided with this practice (1-6).2

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Furthermore, in some cases, special facilities will be required to isolate these tests from laboratory personnel if high pressures or toxic chemical environments, or both, are utilized in SSR testing.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.