ASTM G161-00(2006)

Standard Guide for Corrosion-Related Failure Analysis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended to assist those encountering corrosion or possible corrosion as a causative factor in a failure analysis.  
This guide is not an absolute plan that will identify the cause of corrosion in all failure analyses.
This guide is intended to help an investigator identify significant sources and types of corrosion information that may be available for failure analysis.
Appendix X1 contains a checklist that is intended to assist in corrosion-related failure evaluations.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers key issues to be considered when examining metallic failures when corrosion is suspected as either a major or minor causative factor.
1.2 Corrosion-related failures could include one or more of the following: change in surface appearance (for example, tarnish, rust, color change), pin hole leak, catastrophic structural failure (for example, collapse, explosive rupture, implosive rupture, cracking), weld failure, loss of electrical continuity, and loss of functionality (for example, seizure, galling, spalling, swelling).
1.3 Issues covered include overall failure site conditions, operating conditions at the time of failure, history of equipment and its operation, corrosion product sampling, environmental sampling, metallurgical and electrochemical factors, morphology (mode) or failure, and by considering the preceding, deducing the cause(s) of corrosion failure.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2006
• ICS: 77.060 - Corrosion of metals
• Technical Committee: G01 - Corrosion of Metals
• Drafting Committee: G01.05 - Laboratory Corrosion Tests

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM G161-00 - Standard Guide for Corrosion-Related Failure Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2006
• Replaced By: ASTM G161-00(2013) - Standard Guide for Corrosion-Related Failure Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: G161 − 00(Reapproved 2006)
Standard Guide for
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Corrosion-Related Failure Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G161; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Significance and Use
1.1 This guide covers key issues to be considered when
3.1 This guide is intended to assist those encountering
examining metallic failures when corrosion is suspected as
corrosion or possible corrosion as a causative factor in a failure
either a major or minor causative factor.
analysis.
1.2 Corrosion-related failures could include one or more of
3.2 This guide is not an absolute plan that will identify the
the following: change in surface appearance (for example,
cause of corrosion in all failure analyses.
tarnish, rust, color change), pin hole leak, catastrophic struc-
3.3 This guide is intended to help an investigator identify
tural failure (for example, collapse, explosive rupture, implo-
significant sources and types of corrosion information that may
sive rupture, cracking), weld failure, loss of electrical
be available for failure analysis.
continuity, and loss of functionality (for example, seizure,
galling, spalling, swelling).
3.4 Appendix X1 contains a checklist that is intended to
assist in corrosion-related failure evaluations.
1.3 Issues covered include overall failure site conditions,
operatingconditionsatthetimeoffailure,historyofequipment
4. Organizing the Analysis
and its operation, corrosion product sampling, environmental
sampling, metallurgical and electrochemical factors, morphol-
4.1 Early recognition of corrosion as a factor in a failure
ogy (mode) or failure, and by considering the preceding,
analysis is critical to any such investigation. Therefore, it is
deducing the cause(s) of corrosion failure.
generally desirable to conduct the analysis as soon as possible
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
after the apparent failure. It is always desirable to protect the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the physical evidence until the analysis can begin. Much important
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
corrosion information can be lost if a failure scene is altered or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- changed before appropriate observations can be made.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.2 A written plan for the detailed analysis should be
2. Referenced Documents prepared. The plan may include methods of documentation
2 (photographsbeforeandduringanalysis,sketches,statements),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
responsibilities of parties, reporting needs, and scheduling.
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
4.3 If the capability (corrosion knowledge and experience)
Documentation
of in-house personnel and availability of resources are inad-
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
equate to make the analysis in a timely manner, it may be
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
expedient to seek third party services.
G1 Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating Corro-
sion Test Specimens
5. Failure Site Conditions
G46 Guide for Examination and Evaluation of Pitting Cor-
5.1 When possible, an overall examination of the conditions
rosion
at a failure site prior to cleaning, moving, or sampling debris
should be conducted. Impressions as to physical arrangements,
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This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee G01 on Corrosion of
odors, colors, textures, and conditions of adjacent structures
Metals and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G01.05 on Laboratory
Corrosion Tests. can provide important clues as to active corrosion processes.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2006. Published January 2007. Originally
5.2 Photographs or videotapes serve as documentation of
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as G161 – 00. DOI:
10.1520/G0161-00R06.
theobservations.Colorphotographsarepreferable.Itishelpful
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
to include labels and indications of size, location, and orienta-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
tion in the photographs. Photographs before, during, and after
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. sampling are recommended.
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