API 571 Certification (Corrosion & Materials) Practice Test

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Which factor mainly affects older carbon steels with large grain sizes?

  1. Strain hardening

  2. Strain aging

  3. Temper embrittlement

  4. Creep rupture

The correct answer is: Strain aging

Strain aging is the correct choice because it specifically pertains to the effects that occur in older carbon steels, particularly those with large grain sizes. This phenomenon arises when dislocations in the metal's crystal structure interact with impurities or solute atoms, resulting in a further increase in strength and hardness, but at the cost of ductility. In older carbon steels, which may have undergone processes that lead to larger grain sizes, the performance under stress can be significantly impacted by strain aging. As these steels age, they can exhibit increased brittleness due to the redistribution of alloying elements during this process, which ultimately can lead to failures in structural integrity. This explanation places importance on the specific relationship between microstructural features like grain size and the susceptibility to strain aging, which is highly relevant for understanding the behavior of older carbon steels in applications where strength and ductility are paramount.