More than two decades ago, cracks growing slowly at temperatures below the creep range were first discovered in tubing of C–Mn steel in thermal power plants. So far, no completely satisfactory explanation for such behaviour has been found. Available information on the influence of nitrogen on deformation and cracking of C–Mn steel under prevailing conditions, however, seems to indicate that this element may play a critical role in the failure in question. It appears that a mechanism involving both metallurgical and mechanical processes has to be considered more comprehensively and in a more integrated manner than is usually the case.
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