Hmm! it appears we have A4 (316) SS failing on a sulphate crag? It’s time to measure stuff. Many thanks to Simon Alden for the sample and photographs. This story comes from the sea cliffs of Malta. Whilst I don’t have significant geochemical sampling for Malta, I have every reason to believe the Mediterranean location […]
We Observe Brittle Fracture The third part of a multi-part series In conducting this work I have been greatly assisted by Luis Fernandes Silva and Rui Rosado who have provided multiple samples and photos for analysis. Luis has spent a great deal of time measuring spot-sulphate levels, and the pH profiles of bolts he has […]
It’s not just the material you use, but critically, it matters how you use it. I have been researching the possibility that the brittle fractures we are seeing at Cabo da Roca and Sesimbra in Portugal are hydrogen embrittlement (HE) fractures mediated via the presence of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB). Austenitic stainless steels like 304 […]