API 570---API 571

100- QUESTIONS
 Contents

1) Erosion/Erosion -- Corrosion
2) Mechanical Fatigue
3) Galvanic Corrosion
4) Atmospheric Corrosion
5) Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
6) Boiler Water Condensate Corrosion
7) Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC)
8) Soil Corrosion
9) Caustic Corrosion
10) Sulfidation
11) Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking (Cl-SCC)
12) Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking (Caustic Embrittlement)
13) Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) Corrosion
14) Sour Water Corrosion (Acidic)
15) Amine Stress Corrosion Cracking
 API 570-API 571

1. Erosion - Corrosion is ______________________________.

A. the accelerated mechanical removal of surface material as a
result of relative movement between, or impact from solids,
liquids, vapor or any combination thereof
B. removing protective films or scales by exposing the metal
surface to further corrosion
 API 571

2.Increasing the hardness of the metal substrate is

_____________________.
A. always a good method to prevent erosion from occurring
B. not always a good method to prevent erosion from occurring
 API 571

3.Visual examination of suspected or troublesome areas, as well

as UT checks or RT can be used to detect the extent of metal
loss.
A. True
B. False
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4. Which of the following is not a form of erosion or erosion -

corrosion?
A. cavitation
B. fretting
C. carburization
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5.________ has been a major problem on coke drum shells.

A. Thermal fatigue
B. Stress cracking
C. Erosion
D. Temper embrittlement
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6.________ is a form of erosion caused by the formation and

instantaneous collapse of innumerable tiny vapor bubbles.
A. Condensate corrosion
B. Cavitation
C. Dew-Point corrosion
D. Atmospheric corrosion
 API 571

7.Improved resistance to erosion is usually achieved through

increasing substrate ________ using harder alloys, hard facing
or face-hardening treatment.
A. Composition
B. Stress
C. Hardness
D. None of the above
 API 571

8. Cooling water corrosion and __________ are closely related and

should be considered together.
A. Stress
B. Velocity
C. Fouling
D. Erosion
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9. ____________ are characterized by a localized loss in thickness

in the form of pits, grooves, gullies, waves, rounded holes and
valleys. These losses often exhibit a directional pattern.
A. Erosion
B. Corrosion/Erosion
C. Environmental corrosion
D. Both A and B
 API 571

10. Cavitation is a form of erosion caused by the formation and

instantaneous collapse of innumerable tiny vapor bubbles.
Temperatures approaching the boiling point of the liquid are
_________ to result in bubble formation.
A. Less likely
B. More likely
C. Not likely
D. None of the above
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11. Erosion-corrosion is a description for the damage that occurs

when corrosion contributes to erosion by removing protective
films or scales, or by exposing the metal surface to further
________ under the combined action of corrosion-erosion.
A. Stress
B. Corrosion
C. Oxidation
D. None of the above
 API 570-API 571

12. One of the properties of mechanical fatigue is that it typically

happens___________.
A. well below yield strength of the material
B. well above yield strength of the material
C. at the yield strength of the material
 API 571

13. Fatigue cracks usually initiate on the surface

_______________under cyclic loading.
A. at openings only
B. at notches or stress raisers
C. underneath reinforcement pads only
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14. Heat treatment can have a significant effect on the toughness

and hence fatigue resistance of a metal. In general
___________tend to perform better than___________.
A. coarse grained microstructures - finer grained
B. medium grained microstructures - coarse grained
C. finer grained microstructures - coarse grained
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15. An example of a component that might exhibit mechanical

fatigue due to thermal cycling is a
______________________________________.
A. large bore piping systems
B. coker drum
C. high pressure drop control valves
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16.. NDE monitoring for mechanical fatigue might include

_______________________.
A. SWUT, RT and MT
B. PT, MT and SWUT
C. RT, PT and MT
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17. _________ is a mechanical form of degradation that occurs

when a component is exposed to cyclical stresses for an
extended period, often resulting in sudden, unexpected failure.
A. Stress fatigue
B. Mechanical fatigue
C. Thermal fatigue
D. Cyclic fatigue
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18. ________ of a component is the most important factor in

determining a components resistance to mechanical fatigue.
A. Design
B. Temperature
C. Stress
D. Pressure
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19. A form of mechanical fatigue in which cracks are produced as

a result of dynamic loadings is _______.
A. Spheroidization
B. Vibration-induced cracking
C. Fatigue cracking
D. Stress cracking
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20. Which of the following materials are subject to mechanical

fatigue?
A. Carbon steels
B. Stainless steels
C. Low alloy steels
D. All of the above
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21. Contrary to a pure mechanical fatigue, there is no _________

load in corrosion-assistant fatigue. Corrosion promotes failure
at a lower stress and number of cycles than the materials
normal endurance.
A. Tensile
B. Stress
C. Ductile
D. Fatigue limit
 API 570-API 571

22. A form of corrosion that can occur at the junction of dissimilar

metals when they are joined together in a suitable electrolyte is
____.
A. Galvanic corrosion
B. Anodic corrosion
C. Cathodic corrosion
D. All of the above
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23. For galvanic corrosion to take place, three conditions must be

met, presence of an electrolyte, two different materials or alloys
and _____.
A. A cathode
B. An anode
C. An electrical connection
D. None of the above
 API 570-API 571

24. Materials that might be affected by atmospheric corrosion

include ______________.
A. Carbon steel, low alloy steels and copper alloyed aluminum
B. Carbon steel, low alloy steels and alloyed brasses
C. Carbon steel, low alloy steels and the 400 series stainless steels
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25. Piping on supports are often very prone to atmospheric

corrosion due to ________.
A. long horizontal runs
B. being located next over sprays and leaks
C. water entrapment between the pipe and the supports
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26. The method(s) that can be used for inspection to find

atmospheric corrosion are_________________.
A. Visual and RT
B. UT and Visual
 API 570-API 571

27. Materials that might be affected by CUI

include_______________________.
A. Carbon steel, low alloy steels 300 and 600 Series SS
B. Carbon steel, low alloy steels 500 Series SS and duplex
stainless steels
C. Carbon steel, low alloy steels 300 Series SS and duplex
stainless steels
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28. It is known that 300 Series SS, 400 Series SS and duplex SS
are subject to pitting and localized corrosion. The 300 series
are also subject to what form of attack if chlorides are present?
 A. ________________________________________
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29. Preventing CUI calls for careful selection of insulating

materials. Therefore __________ materials will hold less water
against the vessel/pipe wall than ___________and, are
potentially be less corrosive.
A. closed-cell foam glass - mineral wool
B. mineral wool - closed-cell foam glass
C. asbestos - closed-cell foam glass
 API 571

30. The recommended technique for identifying wet insulation and

potential CUI is ____________.
A. Profile radiography
B, Neutron backscatter
C. Insulation removal
 API 570-API 571

31. Corrosion in boiler feed water and condensate return system

is usually the result of dissolved gases, such
as____________________________.
A. oxygen and sulfur phosphates
B. carbon dioxide and low pH amine
C. oxygen and carbon dioxide
 API 571

32. Corrosion from oxygen tends to be pitting type damage and

can show up any where in the system, but is most aggressive
in __________________________.
A. equipment such as closed heaters and economizers
B. boiler tubes in the radiant section
C. boiler tubes in the convection section
 API 571

33. _______________is the common monitoring tool used to

assure that the various treatment systems are performing in a
satisfactory manner.
A. pH measurement alone
B. complete water analysis
C. oxygen content
 API 570-API 571

34. Cooling water corrosion can result in many different forms of

damage including general corrosion, pitting corrosion,
________, stress corrosion cracking and fouling.
A. MIC
B. HIC
C. SOHIC
D. All of the above
 API 570-API 571

35. Soil to Air interface areas are usually more susceptible to

corrosion than the rest of the structure because of
___________ and __________ availability.
A. Moisture
B. Bacteria
C. Oxygen
D. B and C
E. A and C
 API 570-API 571

36. Soil corrosion of carbon steel can be minimized through the

use of special backfill, coatings and _______.
A. Cathodic protection
B. Resistivity
C. Temperature
D. None of the above
 API 570-API 571

37. The most common method used for monitoring underground

structures is measuring the structure to soil ______ using
dedicated reference electrodes near the structure.
A. Resistivity
B. Corrosiveness
C. Potential
D. Electrolyte
 API 570-API 571

38. Soils having high moisture content, high dissolved salt

concentrations and high ________ are the most corrosive.
A. Oxygen content
B. Resistivity
C. Acidity
D. All of the above
 API 570-API 571

39. Soil corrosion appears as external thinning with localized

losses due to _________.
A. Resistivity
B. Pitting
C. General corrosion
D. Potential
 API 570-API 571

40. Cracking can occur at low caustic levels if a concentrating

mechanism is present. In such cases, caustic concentrations of
________ ppm are sufficient to cause cracking.
A. 50-100
B. 100-150
C. 150-200
D. 200-250
 API 571

41. __________ caustic concentrations and ________

temperatures increase the likelihood and severity of cracking
with caustic embrittlement.
A. Increasing, Decreasing
B. Decreasing, Increasing
C. Decreasing, Decreasing
D. Increasing, Increasing
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42. Which material below is not susceptible to caustic corrosion?

A. Carbon steel
B. 400 Series SS
C. 300 Series SS
D. Low alloy steel
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43. Exposure to high solution strength caustic can result in

general corrosion or high corrosion rates above ________.
A. 175º F
B. 150º F
C. 125º F
D. 100º F
 API 571

44. _________ significantly increases the probability and severity

of blistering, HIC and SOHIC.
A. Hydrogen
B. Oxygen
C. Cyanide
D. Caustic
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45. Wet H²S services or _________ acid services are process

where hydrogen diffuses into the steel and hydrogen
embrittlement (HE) is an issue.
A. HF
B. Sulfuric
C. Caustic
D. HCL
 API 571

46. Localized corrosion due to the concentration of caustic or

alkaline salts that usually occurs under evaporative conditions
is ___.
A. Carbonate corrosion
B. Caustic corrosion
C. Alkaline corrosion
D. None of the above
 API 570-API 571

47. Which of the following alloys form sulfides at a lower

temperature than carbon steel?
A. copper alloys
B. nickel alloys
C. aluminum alloys
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48. Generally the resistance to Sulfidation in iron and nickel base

alloys increases as the _____________ content increases.
A. nickel
B. molybdenum
C. chromium
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49. Inspection methods to determine thinning by Sulfidation

include ___and ___.
A. UT thickness and VT
B. UT thickness and Profile RT
C. EC and Profile RT
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50. Sulfidation is also known as __________________.

A. Sulfurous Oxide Attack (SOA)
B. High Temperature Sulfide Attack (HTSA)
C. Sulfidic Corrosion (SC) A. Sulfurous Oxide Attack (SOA)
B. High Temperature Sulfide Attack (HTSA)
C. Sulfidic Corrosion (SC)
 API 570-API 571

51. The description of Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking is

surface initiated cracks caused by environmental cracking of
300 Series SS and some nickel base alloys under the combined
action of tensile stress, temperature and an aqueous chloride
environment. This condition is accelerated by__________.
A. increasing temperature
B. decreasing temperature
C. decreasing chloride
 API 571

52. Which of the following alloys is highly susceptible to CLSCC?

A. nickel
B. duplex stainless steel
C. 300 series stainless steel
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53. SCC usually occurs at pH values_____. At lower pH values,

uniform corrosion generally predominates. SCC tendency
decreases toward the alkaline pH region.
A. above 2
B. below 2
C. above 4
 API 571

54. Inspection for CL SCC can be detected by using which of the

following NDE methods?
A. VT
B. PT
C. Both methods above
 API 570-API 571

55. Caustic embrittlement is a form of stress corrosion cracking

characterized by surface-initiated cracks that occur in piping
and equipment exposed to caustic, primarily adjacent
to___________.
A. non-PWHT welds
B. PWHT welds
C. nozzles and other openings
 API 571

56. Crack propagation rates increase dramatically with

temperature and can sometimes grow through wall in
____________________________.
A. a matter of a few weeks
B. a matter of hours or days
C. a matter of a few months
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57. Caustic embrittlement is often found in piping and equipment

that handles caustic. It may also be found in a process unit
that______________________.
A. removes naphtha
B. mercaptans
C. Light Gas Oil
 API 571

58. Prevention of cracking in carbon steels can be achieved by

PWHT to a temperature of __________________.
A. 1250 oF
B. 1150 oF
C. 1300 oF
 API 571

59. __________ is a form of stress corrosion cracking normally

occurring during shutdowns, startups or during operation
when air and moisture are present.
Cracking is due to sulfur acids forming from sulfide scale, air
and moisture acting on sensitized stainless steel.
A. Caustic SCC
B. Chloride SCC
C. Polythionic acid SCC
D. None of the above
 API 571

60 . ____________ is a form of environmental cracking that can

initiate on the surface of high strength low alloy steels and
carbon steels with highly localized zones of high hardness in
the weld metal and HAZ as a result of exposure to aqueous HF
acid service.
A. Sulfide stress cracking
B. Hydrogen stress cracking
C. Caustic stress cracking
D. Hydrogen induced cracking
 API 571

61. Caustic stress corrosion cracking typically propagates

_______ to the weld in adjacent base metal but can occur in the
weld deposit or heat affected zone.
A. Transverse
B. Perpendicular
C. Parallel
D. Across
 API 571

62. Hydrogen stress cracking is the same mechanism that is

responsible for sulfide stress corrosion cracking in wet H²S
environments except that HF acid is generating the
__________.
A. Sulfide
B. Caustic
C. Hydrogen
D. Water
 API 571

63. When caustic stress corrosion cracking is a concern, steam

out of _________ carbon steel piping and equipment should be
avoided.
A. PWHT
B. Non-PWHT
C. Ferritic
D. Hardened
 API 571

64. Although cracks may be seen visually, crack detection for

caustic stress corrosion cracking is best detected by WFMT,
EC, RT and ______.
A. PT
B. MT
C. ACFM
D. All of the above
 API 571

65. Amine cracking is a form of ________ stress corrosion

cracking.
A. Hydrogen
B. Caustic
C. Polythionic
D. Alkaline
 API 571

66. SSC is a form of ________ stress corrosion cracking.

A. Hydrogen
B. Caustic
C. Polythionic
D. Alkaline
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67. It is generally accepted that stresses approaching _________

are required for SCC to occur so that thermal stress relief is
effective in preventing caustic SCC.
A. MAWP
B. Yield
C. Creep range
D. Critical
 API 571

68. ________ injection downstream of the desalter is another

common method used to reduce the amount of HCl going
overhead.
A. Hydrogen
B. Nitrogen
C. Water
D. Caustic
 API 571

69. Caustic embrittlement cracking can be effectively prevented by

means of PWHT at a temperature of _______.
A. 1100º F
B. 1150º F
C. 1200º F
D. 1250º F
 API 571

70. Caustic embrittlement is a form of stress corrosion cracking

characterized by surface-initiated cracks that occur in piping
and equipment exposed to caustic, primarily adjacent to non-
PWHT welds. Which of the following materials is the most
resistant to embrittlement?
A. Carbon steel
B. Nickel based alloys
C. Low alloy steels
D. 400 Series SS
 API 571

71. PWHT is ___________ in preventing caustic SCC.

A. Effective
B. Not effective
C. Not practical
D. None of the above
 API 570-API 571

72. HCl acid corrosion is found in several units, especially

_______ and ________, units, hydroprocessing units and
catalytic reformer units.
A. Amine, crude
B. Crude, Alkylation
C. Vacuum, Amine
D. Crude, Vacuum
 API 571

73. Carbon steel and low alloy steels are subject to excessive
hydrochloric acid corrosion when exposed to any
concentration of HCl acid that produces a pH below______.
A. 6.0
B. 5.5
C. 5.0
D. 4.5
 API 571

74. Hydrochloric acid corrosion is a general and localized

corrosion and is very aggressive to most common materials of
construction. Damage in refineries is often associated with dew
point corrosion in which vapors containing _______ and
hydrogen chloride condense from the overhead stream of a
distillation, fractionation, or stripping tower.
A. O²
B. O
C. H²O
D. CO²
 API 571

75. The severity of hydrochloric acid corrosion ________ with

_________ HCl concentration and increasing temperatures.
A. Decreases, decreasing
B. Increases, increasing
C. Decreases, increasing
D. Increases, decreasing
 API 570-API 571

76. At a given pressure, the H²S concentration in the sour water

_________ as temperature _________.
A. Increases, increases
B. Decreases, decreases
C. Increases, decreases
D. Decreases, increases
 API 571

77. Titanium Hydriding damage occurs primarily in sour water

strippers and amine units in the overhead condensers, heat
exchanger tubes and other titanium equipment operating above
_________.
A. 300º F
B. 270º F
C. 210º F
D. 165º F
 API 571

78. With sour water corrosion, at a given pressure, the H²S

concentration in the sour water _________ as temperatures
________.
A. Increases, increases
B. Decreases, decreases
C. Increases, decreases
D. Decreases, increases
 API 571

79. With sour water corrosion, corrosion increases with

__________ NH4HS concentration and __________ velocity.
A. Increasing, Decreasing
B. Increasing, Increasing
C. Decreasing, Decreasing
D. Decreasing, Increasing
 API 571

80. With sour water corrosion, streams with a pH below ________

indicate the presence of a strong acid.
A. 7.0
B. 5.5
C. 6.0
D. 4.5
 API 571

81. Sour water corrosion in _________ containing environments

may be accompanied by carbonate SCC.
A. H²O
B. H²S
C. CO²
D. O²
 API 571

82. 300 Series SS can be used for sour water service at

temperatures below _______, where Chloride SCC is not likely.
A. 120º F
B. 140º F
C. 150º F
D. 175º F
 API 571

83. At a given pressure, the H²S concentration in the sour water

_________ as temperature _________.
A. Increases, increases
B. Decreases, decreases
C. Increases, decreases
D. Decreases, increases
 API 571

84. Titanium should not be used in known hydriding services such

as _____ or ______.
A. Caustic, amine
B. Amine, sour water
C. Sour water, Alkylation
D. All of the above
 API 571

85. Corrosion due to acidic sour water containing H²S at a pH

between 4.5 and 7.0 is called sour water corrosion. Carbon
dioxide (CO²) may also be present.
 Which of the following materials is susceptible to sour water
corrosion?
A. Carbon steel
B. 300 Series SS
C. 400 Series SS
D. Both B and C
 API 570-API 571

86. Amine cracking has been reported down to ambient

temperatures with some amines. __________ temperatures and
stress levels _______ the likelihood and severity of cracking.
A. Increasing increases
B. Increasing, decreases
C. Decreasing increases
D. Increasing, reduces
 API 571

87. Amine stress corrosion cracking is a term applied to the

cracking of steels under the combined actions of ________ and
__________ in aqueous alkanolamine systems used to
remove/absorb H²S and/or CO² and their mixtures from various
gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams.
A. Temperature, pressure
B. Pressure, stress
C. Temperature, corrosion
D. Tensile stress, corrosion
 API 571

88. Amine stress corrosion cracking is most often associated with

lean amine services. The pure alkanolamine does not cause
cracking. Cracking in rich amine services are most often
associated with _______ problems.
A. H²S
B. Stress
C. Wet H²S
D. Temperature
 API 571

89. Titanium should not be used in known hydriding services such

as _____ or ______.
A. Caustic, amine
B. Amine, sour water
C. Sour water, Alkylation
D. All of the above
 API 571

90. Which of the following alkanolamine systems is the most

aggressive in causing amine corrosion?
A. Monoethanolamine (MEA)
B. Diglycolamine (DGA)
C. Diethanolamine (DEA)
D. Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)
 API 571

91. Which of these materials is not susceptible to amine cracking?

A. Carbon steel
B. 300 Series SS
C. 400 Series SS
D. Both B and C
 API 571

92. Amine corrosion depends on the design, operating practices,

the type of amine, amine concentration, temperature and
_________.
A. Pressure
B. Velocity
C. Stress
D. None of the above
 API 571

93. For carbon steel, common velocity limits are generally limited
to _________ fps for rich amine and _______ fps for lean amine.
A. 8-10, 30
B. 6-9, 15
C. 4-8, 10
D. 3-6, 20
 API 571

94. Amine cracking is ________ likely to occur in lean MEA and

DEA services than in MDEA and DIPA services.
A. More
B. Less
C. As
D. None of the above
 API 571

95. ________ greatly increases the probability and severity of

blistering, HIC and SOHIC damage.
A. Acids
B. Caustics
C. Amines
D. Cyanides
 API 571

96. Which of the following alkanolamine systems is the least

aggressive in causing amine corrosion?
A. Monoethanolamine (MEA)
B. Diglycolamine (DGA)
C. Diethanolamine (DEA)
D. Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)
 API 571

97. Titanium Hydriding damage occurs primarily in sour water

strippers and amine units in the overhead condensers, heat
exchanger tubes and other titanium equipment operating above
_________.
A. 300º F
B. 270º F
C. 210º F
D. 165º F
 API 571

98. Amine units are used in refineries to remove H²S, CO² and
_________ from process streams originating in many units
including the coker, crude, FCC and hydrogen.
A. NA²
B. Cl²
C. Mercaptans
D. None of the above
 API 571

99. Amine cracking is a form of ________ stress corrosion

cracking.
A. Hydrogen
B. Caustic
C. Polythionic
D. Alkaline
 API 571

100. _________ of the amine system is the most effective way to

prevent amine corrosion.
A. Proper concentration
B. Proper operation
C. Proper design
D. Proper startup
 API 571

101. The regenerator reboiler and the regenerator are areas where
the temperature and __________ of the amine stream are the
highest and can cause significant corrosion problems.
A. Pressure
B. Stress
C. Turbulence
D. Concentration