Will Metal Can For Oil crack under low temperature environment?

1. Material determines the risk of cracking
The "low temperature brittleness" of different metals varies significantly:
Ordinary carbon steel/low alloy steel: There is a "ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT)", which is usually between -20℃ and 0℃. When the temperature is lower than this threshold, the sliding of metal grains is hindered, the impact toughness drops sharply, and welds and stress concentration points are prone to sudden cracking (such as unheat-treated Q235 steel may crack at -30℃).
Austenitic stainless steel (such as 304/316): The face-centered cubic crystal structure makes it still tough at extremely low temperatures (such as -196℃), and almost no brittle cracking occurs, which is suitable for low temperature scenes.
Aluminum alloy: Strength and toughness usually remain unchanged at low temperatures, and the toughness of some alloys (such as 6061-T6) is even improved, and the risk of brittle cracking is extremely low.
Cast iron: It is inherently brittle, and low temperature will further reduce the impact resistance. It is strictly forbidden to use it in low temperature environments.
2. Conditions that trigger brittle cracking
Defects and stress concentration: defects such as welding pores and cold processing deformation (such as curling) will form crack sources and accelerate expansion at low temperatures.
Environmental load superposition: thermal stress caused by sudden cooling (such as a normal temperature barrel suddenly placed at -40℃), or the extrusion of the barrel wall by the solidification and expansion of oil products (such as the solidification of diesel at -20℃) may cause cracking.
Dynamic impact: handling collision and vibration at low temperatures will significantly increase the probability of brittle cracking, especially for thin-walled carbon steel barrels (such as wall thickness <1mm).
3. Preventive measures
Choose the right material: stainless steel or aluminum alloy is preferred below -20℃, and ordinary carbon steel is only suitable for non-impact scenarios above -10℃.
Process optimization: stress relief annealing after welding to avoid excessive cold processing; regularly check welds and corrosion, and replace damaged oil barrels in time.
Environmental control: avoid impact at low temperatures, and keep warm when storing easily solidified oil products to prevent volume expansion and pressure.
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