Sustained-load-cracking – I’ve seen evidence on the Internet that a Luxfer scuba tank exploded in Perth, Australia, early in 2005. Was SLC involved?

An older scuba tank did, in fact, rupture in Perth in January 2005, and the likely mode of rupture was SLC. The investigation is ongoing. However, the 6351-alloy tank involved in the accident was not manufactured by Luxfer, but by CIG Gas Cylinders, a company acquired by Luxfer in 1997. CIG Gas Cylinders used 6351 alloy to manufacture scuba tanks from 1975 through 1990, and then switched to 6061 alloy. All scuba tanks manufactured in Australia by Luxfer have been made from Luxfer’s proprietary 6061 aluminium alloy, which is not susceptible to SLC.