Failure of steel pipes for hot air supply

► We examine microstructure and fracture of stainless steel AISI 310S.
► Pipes were tested after long life application (between 2 and 3 years) at temperatures 600–650 °C.
► Microstructure consisted from σ-phase, sporadically carbides and austenite matrix.
► Fracture surface was transgranular brittle fracture with clevage morphology.