Stress Induce Martensitic Transformations in Hydrogen Embrittlement of Austenitic Stainless Steels

In austenitic type stainless steels, hydrogen concentration gradients formed during electrochemical charging and followed by hydrogen loss during aging, at room temperature, surface stresses, and martensitic phases α′-BCC and ε-HCP developed. The basic relationship between the X-ray diffraction peak broadening and the hydrogen gradients, formed during charging and aging at room temperature in such austenitic stainless steels, were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the impact of stresses must be considered in the discussion of phase transformations due to hydrogenation. Austenitic stainless steels based on iron-nickel-chromium, have relatively low stacking fault energy γ_SFE and undergo: quenching to low temperatures, plastic deformation, sensitization heat treatments, high pressure (≥3–5 × 10⁹ Pa) by hydrogen or other gases, electrochemical charging (when the sample is cathode) and when is irradiation by various ions the samples in vacuum. All the above mentioned induce formation of ε and α′ in the face-centered cubic (FCC) austenite γ matrix. The highest stresses cause formation of mainly α′ phase and ε-martensite, and both are involved in plastic deformation processes and promoting crack propagation at the surface. In 310 steel, the crack propagation is based on deformation processes following ε-martensitic formation only. Formations of ε- and α′-martensites were noted along the fracture surfaces and ahead of the crack tip. The cracks propagated through the ε-martensitic plates, which formed along the active slip planes, while α′ phase was always found in the high-stress region on the ends of the ligaments from both sides of the crack surfaces undergoing propagation.