Characterisation and Mitigation of Caustic Cracking: A Safety and Maintenance Concern in Alumina and Pulp-and-Paper Processing

从铝土矿中提取氧化铝（拜耳法）和纸浆造纸加工（硫酸盐法）是澳大利亚的主要工业。反应容器、蒸煮器、清洗槽和管道系统的破裂是影响工厂完整性、职业健康、安全和环境的主要问题。当故障发生时，腐蚀开裂通常是第一个怀疑的原因。 拟议的计划将调查关键杂质和添加剂，温度和应力波动在低碳钢及其焊接件（已知最敏感）的腐蚀开裂中的作用。该项目还将开发一个知识和基础设施基础，这也将是澳大利亚几个行业的重要资源，其中这种裂解是一个主要问题。

Extraction of alumina from mineral bauxite (Bayer process) and pulp-and-paper processing (Kraft process) are major industries in Australia. Cracking of reaction vessels, digesters, cleaning tanks and pipework are major concern for plant integrity, occupational health, safety and environment. Caustic cracking is often the first suspect when a failure occurs. The proposed program will investigate the role of critical impurities and additives, temperature and stress fluctuations in caustic cracking of mild steel and their weldments (known to be most susceptible). This project will also develop an intellectual and infrastructural base that will also be a vital resource for several Australian industries where such cracking is a major concern.