The ability of a metal to absorb energy and deform plastically before fracturing.

The formation of isolated particles of corrosion products beneath the metal surface. This occurs as the result of preferential oxidation of certain alloy constituents by inward diffusion of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and so forth.

See electrical resistivity.

Corrosive attack that progresses preferentially along interdendritic paths. This type of attack results from local differences in composition, such as coring commonly encountered in alloy castings.

Electrode potential where half-cell reaction involves only the metal electrode and its ion.

The swelling or bubbling of a coating usually because of heating (term currently used in space and fire protection applications).

Embrittlement of iron-chromium alloys (most notably austenitic stainless steels) caused by precipitation at grain boundaries of the hard, brittle intermetallic sigma phase during long periods of exposure to temperatures between approximately 560 and 980

Water that is free of magnesium or calcium salts.

Corrosion that proceeds laterally from the sites of initiation along planes parallel to the surface, generally at grain boundaries, forming corrosion products that force metal away from the body of the material, giving rise to a layered appearance.

(1) Decomposition or alteration of a chemical substance by water. (2) In aqueous solutions of electrolytes, the reactions of cations with water to produce a weak base or of anions to produce a weak acid.

Changes in contour or discontinuities in structure that cause local increases in stress.

Stress-corrosion cracking in which the cracking occurs along grain boundaries.

The spontaneous chipping, fragmentation, or separation of a surtace or surface coating.

Threshold stress-intensity factor for stress-corrosion cracking. The critical plane-strain stress intensity at the onset of stress-corrosion cracking under specified conditions.

The severe loss of ductility or toughness or both, of a material, usually a metal or alloy. Many forms of embrittlement can lead to brittle fracture. Many forms can occur during thermal treatment or elevated temperature service (thermally induced embrittl ...