Examination of furnace belt failure in 232-Z incinerator

摘要

Metallographic examination has been completed on samples from the Nichrome V wire mesh furnace belt in the 232-Z building incinerator. During service the furnace belt had broken in several places where the wire was welded together. A grain boundary phase was found in weld metal during metallographic examination of the as received material. It is probable to conclude that the failure during service was caused by accelerated corrosion of the weld and that the accelerated corrosion in that area was related to the structure of the weld metal. It would be informative to examine welds from the furnace belts that have not failed to further study the cause for the failure.