What are the signs of 'Stress Corrosion Cracking' in a stainless steel retaining ring in a marine environment?

Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) manifests as sudden, brittle fracture without significant deformation, even in ductile materials like 17-7PH. It occurs due to the simultaneous presence of tensile stress (the installation 'cling' stress) and a corrosive medium (chlorides). Microscopic inspection of the fracture surface will show 'branched' transgranular or intergranular cracks. In retaining rings, the 'ends' of the wire and the 'removal notch' are common initiation points due to higher localized stress. To prevent SCC, engineers should ensure proper passivation, consider switching to a more resistant alloy like Inconel 718, or reduce the installation stress by optimizing the groove diameter.