Work instructions for

IGC test practice -‘B’

TCR/MET/WI13
Rev.00

Name of Laboratory: TCR ADVANCED ENGINEERING PVT. LTD.

Document No.: TCR/MET/WI13 Document Name: Work Instruction

Issue Revision
- Issue Date: - Revision No.: 00 19.02.2019
No.: Date

Prepared & Issued Reviewed & Approved by

Table of contents

1. PURPOSE 2

2. SCOPE 2

3. RANGE 2

4. INSTRUMENT: 2

5. ETCHING SOLUTION 2

6. REFERENCE STANDARD 2

7. SAMPLE PREPARATION 2

8. PROCEDURE 3

9. PRECAUTION 3

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 TCR/MET/WI13
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Work instructions for IGC test practice -‘B’ as per ASTM A-262

1. PURPOSE
The purpose for the practice is to detect the susceptibility to intergranular attack associated with
precipitation of chromium carbides in austenitic stainless steels using practice B of A262 – 14.

2. SCOPE
1.) this practice describes procedure for conducting the boiling 120 h ferric sulphate 50 % sulphuric
acid test. which detects the susceptibility to intergranular attack associated with precipitation of
chromium carbides in austenitic stainless steels but it does not detect susceptibility associated with
the sigma phase in wrought chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steels like 316, 316L, 317, 317L
which corrode rapidly only in certain nitric acid environments. It does not detect susceptibility to end
grain attack, which is found in certain nitric acid environments only.
2.) The test does not reveal susceptibility associated with a sigma-like phase constituent in stabilized
stainless steels like AISI 321, and 347 and in cast chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steels like
CF-8M, CF-3M, C6-8M, AND CG-3M.

3. RANGE
NA

4. INSTRUMENT:
An Allihn or Soxhlet condenser with a minimum four bulbs and overall length of 330 mm are used. A
38 mm wide I-L Erlenmeyer flask is used. Hot plate or Gas Burner

5. ETCHING SOLUTION
The 600 ml of 50% Ferric Sulphate – Sulphuric acid etching solution is prepared as follows:
400 ml distilled water is taken in Erlenmeyer flask.
236 ml of reagent grade sulphuric acid which is 95-98% by weight is gradually added to the distilled
water.
25 g of reagent grade ferric sulfate (which contains 75% Fe2(SO4)3 is added to sulphuric acid solution.

6. REFERENCE STANDARD
ASTM A262-15, DIN-3651-1 &2-1998

7. SAMPLE PREPARATION
1. The specimen with a surface area of 5-20 cm2 is recommended.
2. Specimen with welds should not be cut more than 13 mm width of the base metal on both sides.
3. Extra-low-carbon and stabilized grades are tested after sanitizing heat treatments at 675ºC for 1 hr
4. Polished the specimen up to minimum 120grit on all surfaces of specimen.
5. Measure the dimensions of specimen and calculate total exposed area of the sample.
6. Clean the sample with distilled water, methanol and air dry
7. Weigh the specimen near to 0.001grams or better least count

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 TCR/MET/WI13
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Work instructions for IGC test practice -‘B’ as per ASTM A-262

8. PROCEDURE
1. Measure the dimensions of specimen with vernier callipers and calculate the surface area. Note down
the initial weight of sample in lab record slip.
2. fill 600 ml of etching solution is taken in 1 L Erlenmeyer flask
3. Drop Glass beads in the flask containing the acid solution.
4. Place the specimen on glass beads and immerse in boiling solution.

5. The condenser flask is place on the Erlenmeyer flask and sealed with silicon grease.
6. Cooling water is circulated in the condenser flask. The solution is then boiled for 120 hr.
7. Mark liquid level on flask with wax crayon to provide a check on vapour loss, which would result in
change in concentration of the acid. If there is an appreciable change in the level , the test must be
repeated with fresh solution and a reground specimen.
8. Continue immersion of the specimen for a total of 120hrs. , then remove specimen, rinse in water
and methanol and dry the sample.
9. Weigh specimen and subtract the weight from initial weight.
10. No intermediate weighing is usually necessary. The test can be run without interpretation for 120
hrs. However if preliminary results are desired the specimen can be removed at any time for
weighing.
11. No changes in solution are necessary during the 120h test periods.
12. Additional ferric sulphate inhibitor may have to be added during the test if corrosion rate is
extraordinarily high as evidenced by a change in the color of the solution.
13. More ferric sulphate may have to be added if the total weight loss of all specimens exceeds 2g.(During
these test , ferric sulphate is consumed at a rate of 10g of dissolved stainless steel.
14. Only one specimen shall be tested in one flask.
15. Use calculations described below for estimating the corrosion rate and report the achieved value in
the lab record slip.
Calculations and report
The effect of the acid solution on the material shall be measured by determining the loss of weight
of the specimen.
The corrosion rates should be reported as millimeters of penetration per month calculated as follows.
Millimeter per month = (7305xW)/(Axtxd)
Where:
t= time of exposure.
A= area, cm2
W=weight loss, gms
d= density, g/cm3
for Cr-Ni steels, d=7.9 g/cm3
for Cr-Ni-Mo steels d=8.0 g/cm3

9. PRECAUTION
Protect the eyes and use rubber gloves for handling acid.

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 TCR/MET/WI13
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Work instructions for IGC test practice -‘B’ as per ASTM A-262

RECORD OF REVISIONS

Revisions incorporated
Date of Revision Nature of Reasons for
Revision No.
Revision Revisions Revisions
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