《High Strength Corrosion resistant Alloy 686 for Seawater Fastener Service》.pdf

High Strength Corrosion Resistant INCONEL Alloy 686 for Seawater Fastener Service Edward L. Hibner and Lewis E. Shoemaker Special Metals Corporation Huntington, WV 25705 ABSTRACT The excellent corrosion resistance of nickel-alloys has been put to good use in marine engineering for many years. Some applications, such as fasteners, require high levels of strength as well as corrosion resistance. New high strength nickel-alloys and their weldments exhibit excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and seawater corrosion. Solid solution nickel-based alloys such as INCONEL® alloy 686 (UNS N06686) obtain their strength through cold work. Cold worked alloy 686 exhibits excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion, and exceptional strength, ductility and toughness. INTRODUCTION The U.S. Navy often uses corrosion resistant fasteners with corrosion sensitive materials such as steel, which requires cathodic protection. For example, MONEL® alloy K-500 (UNS N05500) fasteners are used with alloy steel in a seawater environment. The steel receives cathodic protection from sacrificial anodes. The protection is extended to the alloy K-500 fasteners. Failures of the alloy K-500 has occurred due to hydrogen embrittlement and galvanic corrosion problems and also due to corrosion resulting from galvanic interaction with more noble materials. The U.S. Navy currently has a need to replace alloy K-500 fasteners, which can suffer hydrogen embrittlement, with a high strength corrosion resistant alloy. INCONEL alloy 686 is a solid