[modeleng] Re: SS Boiler

At 09:03 AM 10/28/06 -0400, you wrote:
>I wouldn't touch it meself, except as a curiosity and only if it went really
>cheap.

     I wouldn't touch it for any reason.  I am not a metalurgist, I'll just
repeat what has been published over the years in the model engineering
press on the subject.  Dispite what early on appeared to be several
advantages as a boiler material (availability, strength, weldability,
non-rusting) stainless has in the last 30 years been shown to be unsuitable
for boiler work due to its tendency to be weakend by stress corrosion
cracking precipitated by chlorine ions in water.
     Initially the problem appears as weeps at welded joints, then weeps in
flat sheets followed by plate and weld embrittlement which were subject to
unannounced crack failure.  As usual there is varying opinion on this about
the countryside, but presently no international live steam/model
engineering magazine or any recognized designer condones stainless for
miniature boilers.


Regards,
Harry Wade
Nashville  Tennessee

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