Stress corrosion cracking has been a problem in aluminum alloys exposed to an aggressive environment under high static residual tensile stress. This work is concerned with the application of electron microscopy to investigate possible causes that led to failure through stress corrosion cracking in the aluminum alloy 5182. This alloy is commonly used for making carbonated beverage containers. The containers in this study did not experience any problem at the time of the filling. However, after humid storage periods going from a few days to a few weeks, leakage at the can ends was reported in many of them. These leaks developed from a failure referred to as aluminum can end blow out.

Figure la shows an SEM micrograph of a cross section of the score imposed on the top of the can during manufacturing. The unscored metal below the score is broken when the ring or tab is pulled out during opening.