Stress corrosion cracking testing device

A stress corrosion cracking (SCC) testing device, comprising:

• a base;
• a corrosion cell mounted to the base, the corrosion cell having a hollow interior chamber adapted for holding a circumferentially notched tensile specimen for SCC testing and a solution of a corrosive substance therein;
• at least one heating element surrounding the corrosion cell, the at least one heating element being selectively actuated to heat the interior of the corrosion cell up to 360° C.;
• a circulation assembly operatively attached to a side of the corrosion cell, the circulation assembly being selectively operable to induce both stagnant and flow states of the corrosive solution disposed in the corrosion cell;
• a pressurizing assembly operatively attached to the corrosion cell, the pressurizing assembly being adapted for admitting a pressurized gas into the corrosion cell to pressurize the corrosion cell up to 200 bar;
• a tensile loading assembly adapted for coupling to the specimen inside the corrosion cell, the tensile loading assembly being configured to apply a constant tensile load on the specimen until the specimen breaks to thereby determine at least the stress intensity factor (KI) and the threshold stress intensity (KIsec);
• a sealing assembly disposed between the loading assembly and the corrosion cell, the sealing assembly having a plurality of corrosion resistant seals for preventing leakage of the corrosive solution at high temperatures and pressures;
• a cooling assembly mounted to the sealing assembly for cooling the seals in the sealing assembly;
• and
• a timing assembly operatively attached to one end of the tensile loading assembly, the timing assembly monitoring and measuring the time interval for the specimen to break under load.