Abstract: A process for improving resistance of pressure vessel shells, tubesheets, tubes, pipes, pipe fittings and machine parts to stress corrosion cracking comprising heating at least those portions of such bodies subject to danger by stress corrosion cracking to a critical elevated themperature level, cooling at least the surface portions of the metal body subject to stress corrosion cracking and then permitting such treated portions of the metal body to come to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a gaseous sample from a stream containing solid particulate material, a gas, water and steam which comprises withdrawing a stream containing said particulate material, a gas, water and steam from a system containing the same through an elongated tubular member extending into said system and discharging said stream from said tubular member externally of said system, heating said stream in its passage through said tubular member, removing from said tubular member externally of said system a gaseous sample consisting essentially of said gas and said steam through a porous section of said elongated tubular member having openings in the wall thereof smaller in cross-section than the solid particulate material in said stream, and apparatus for carrying out the same.

Abstract: A process for improving resistance of control rod guide tube split pins in nuclear reactors to stress corrosion cracking comprising heating the split pin to a critical elevated temperature level, cooling at least the surface portions of the split subject to stress corrosion cracking and then permitting the split pin to come to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A process is claimed for removing the residual tensile welding stresses in the inner layer of the weld metal and the heat-affected zone of steel piping elements that have been butt-welded to each other end-to-end by means of a circumferential weld. The process involves mechanically introducing circumferential compressive stresses in the piping elements by applying a radial load inwardly on a section of at least one of the piping elements away from the weld such that the distance from the midplane of the section of the piping element upon which the radial load is applied to the weld midplane is equal to about two to about 12 times the thickness of the piping element upon which the radial load is applied. The distance from the edge of the section of the piping element upon which the radial load is applied that is adjacent the weld to the weld midplane is at least equal to about one-half the thickness of the piping element upon which the load is applied.