Hydrogen-Related Fracture Behavior under Constant Loading Tensile Test in As-Quenched Low-Carbon Martensitic Steel

Abstract

This study investigated the hydrogen-related fracture behavior in as-quenched low-carbon martensitic steel under a constant loading tensile test with various applied stresses. We found that the fracture time in the constant loading tensile test decreased as the applied stress and hydrogen content increased. The fracture surface topography analysis revealed that when the applied stress was low, the intergranular fracture was initiated around the side surface of the specimen and gradually propagated into the inner part of the specimen. In contrast, several intergranular fractures were separately initiated inside the specimen when the applied stress was high. The mode of hydrogen-related fracture was controlled by the fracture stress and not by the global hydrogen content inside the specimen. Increasing the global hydrogen content caused a decrease in the duration required for the accumulation of critical local hydrogen concentration at the fracture initiation site (prior austenite grain boundary). Accordingly, we propose that the local state at the crack initiation site is constant under a given applied stress, even when the global hydrogen content is different.

Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique

“…To assess the risk of HE, the local distribution is often of significant importance. For example, it is well known that diffusive hydrogen accumulates in front of notches or cracks, which is referred to as the Gorsky effect [56,57]. In those cases, the local hydrogen content within these areas is much more relevant for the mechanical behavior and crack initiation than the overall hydrogen content.…”

Effect of 12% Mn Addition on Hydrogen Embrittlement Resistance and Corrosion Behavior of Super 13Cr Martensitic Stainless Steel

“…However, this type of alloy is susceptible to sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) in H 2 S‐containing environments, [ 6,7 ] also known as hydrogen‐induced delayed fracture (HIDF) or hydrogen embrittlement (HE). [ 8–10 ] Reports have shown that the hydrogen diffusion rate (≈10 −13 m 2 s −1 ) of 13Cr MSS may be 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than that of ordinary low‐alloy martensitic steels; however, its high hydrogen adsorption tendency still makes it especially sensitive to HE, resulting in enormous losses and severe disasters in the industry. [ 11,12 ]…”