Hydrogen Embrittlement of Automotive Advanced High-Strength Steels

Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) have a better combination between strength and ductility than conventional HSS, and higher crash resistances are obtained in concomitance with weight reduction of car structural components. These steels have been developed in the last few decades, and their use is rapidly increasing. Notwithstanding, some of their important features have to be still understood and studied in order to completely characterize their service behavior. In particular, the high mechanical resistance of AHSS makes hydrogen-related problems a great concern for this steel grade. This article investigates the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of four AHSS steels. The behavior of one transformation induced plasticity (TRIP), two martensitic with different strength levels, and one hot-stamping steels has been studied using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests on electrochemically hydrogenated notched samples. The embrittlement susceptibility of these AHSS steels has been correlated mainly to their strength level and to their microstructural features. Finally, the hydrogen critical concentrations for HE, established by SSRT tests, have been compared to hydrogen contents absorbed during the painting process of a body in white (BIW) structure, experimentally determined during a real cycle in an industrial plant.     

Hydrogen Embrittlement Behavior of 430 and 445NF Ferritic Stainless Steels

Hydrogen embrittlement behavior of two kinds of commercial ferritic stainless steels (STSs), 430 (UNS S43000) and 445NF (UNS S44536), was investigated by means of a series of cathodical hydrogen charging, slow strain rate tests, bending tests, and thermal desorption spectrometry analyses. The hydrogen concentration in 445NF STS was lower than that of 430 STS under identical hydrogen charging conditions because of the formation of a more passive layer. In addition, 445NF STS exhibited a larger passive range in the potentiodynamic polarization curve. However, resistance to hydrogen embrittlement of 445NF STS was inferior to that of 430 STS because of precipitation of the Laves phase at grain boundaries of the former at annealing temperatures of 873 K to 1123 K (600 °C to 850 °C). Crack propagation was found to occur along the interface between the Laves phase and the matrix. For 445NF STS, dissolution of the Laves phase by solution heat treatment at 1273 K (1000 °C) followed by quenching was effective in terms of suppressing degradation of its mechanical properties and formability, which were related to hydrogen embrittlement.     

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.     

回火马氏体钢的氢脆敏感性评估

我们采用Si含量为1.67%的高Si(简称H-Si)和0.21%的低Si(简称L-Si)的回火马氏体钢,研究了拉伸速度、氢含量和温度对断裂强度和断裂表面形貌的影响。在室温条件下,低含氢量的L-Si钢的断裂表面呈现出从准解理(QC)断裂到疑似晶间(IG-like)断裂再到晶间(IG)断裂的转变。与此相比较,在室温条件下,低含氢量的H-Si钢的断裂表面呈现出从QC断裂到IG-like断裂的转变。断裂表面形貌的转变可以通过含氢条件下的晶间强度与晶内强度之间的大小关系来解释。在-196℃的温度条件下,氢既不降低断裂强度,也不改变断裂表面形貌。因此,在室温条件下的氢脆被认为来自两方面的原因,一是在施加应力的过程中,由于氢聚积和晶格缺陷的形成导致氢脆,二是在施加应力前,捕获的氢造成的氢脆。随着拉伸速度的下降,断裂强度下降,收敛为一个常数值(即下临界应力)。当断裂表面从IG断裂转变为IG-like断裂再到QC断裂时,为了获得下临界应力,需要降低拉伸速度。因此,对于每种类型的断裂表面,为了获得下临界应力,拉伸速度不应该是一个常数,而要通过试验来测定。     

Role of Nonmetallic Inclusions in Hydrogen Embrittlement of High-Strength Carbon Steels with Different Microalloying

High-strength carbon steels of 1200 MPa strength level with different microalloying were tensile tested at constant extension rate and constant load under continuous electrochemical hydrogen charging. The results show that hydrogen markedly reduces elongation and time to fracture of all the studied steels. Fractography of the steels shows that nonmetallic inclusions (NMIs) play the major role in crack initiation in hydrogen-charged specimens. The role of NMIs in the hydrogen-induced fracture of steels is discussed.     

Study on the Hydrogen Embrittlement of Aermet100 Using Hydrogen Permeation and SSRT Techniques

Aermet100 steel suffers greatly from hydrogen embrittlement due to its ultra-high strength. During the corrosion process as part of its service life, reduction of H⁺ in an acidic environment and H₂O in a deaerated near-neutral environment are the main sources of hydrogen generation. Hydrogen permeation into Aermet100 steel can occur even in the atmosphere. After tempering, the coherent precipitations can hinder diffusion of hydrogen in the tempered steel, causing the apparent hydrogen diffusivity and steady hydrogen permeation current to decrease. The fracture morphology of tempered Aermet100 steel after a slow strain rate test in an acidic solution is predominantly micro-void coalescence with few inner cracks. As the solution pH decreases, micro-cracks initiate not only on the side surface but also within the steel. Coalition of micro-cracks accelerates the overall cracking process.     

氢与回火脆化对2．25Cr－1Mo钢局部脆断应力的影响

采用恒温有限元法，研究了一定温度下氢原子与回火脆化对三种不同成分２．２５Ｃｒ－１Ｍｏ钢局部脆断应力的影响。结果发现，可用局部脆断应力σｆ＊的变化衡量材料的回火脆化倾向，但由于晶界上杂质元素与氢原子分布的随机性，可能导致沿晶脆断应力的分散。在降低局部脆断应力的作用上，氢脆与回火脆化具有叠加关系。     

Nd-Fe-B永磁材料氢脆机理与阻氢涂层研究

本文利用三维 Mobius反演变换得到了金属 Nd原子间的相互作用势和 H原子间的相互作用势 ,利用组合规则得到了 Nd- H原子间的相互作用势 ,进而利用正则系统分子动力学算法研究了在一定加载应力强度因子下氢在 Nd晶体中的行为 ,模拟结果表明 ,H在 Nd晶体裂尖富集成许多氢原子团簇或氢气团簇 ,这在一定程度上解释了 Nd- Fe- B磁体中的氢爆现象 ,进而为 Nd- Fe- B阻氢涂层工艺提供理论参考 ,达到在原子分子水平上设计新型阻氢涂层的目的。对 Nd- Fe- B阻氢涂层的制备进行了实验研究 ,利用厚膜烧结方法在 Nd- Fe- B磁体表面涂覆银及高分子聚合物涂层 ,高压充氢实验结果表明 ,在 10 MPa、2 5℃的氢环境中 ,磁体充氢 178分钟未粉碎 ,最长可达2 88分钟 ,充氢后的磁体磁性能没有变化。另外 ,对 γ-辐照前后涂覆涂层的磁体进行了磁性能、充氢及尺寸测试 ,实验结果表明 ,涂覆涂层的磁体 γ-辐照前后磁性能、阻氢性能及磁体尺寸没有变化     

Studies of Evaluation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Property of High-Strength Steels with Consideration of the Effect of Atmospheric Corrosion

Hydrogen embrittlement of high-strength steels was investigated by using slow strain rate test (SSRT) of circumferentially notched round bar specimens after hydrogen precharging. On top of that, cyclic corrosion tests (CCT) and outdoor exposure tests were conducted prior to SSRT to take into account the effect of hydrogen uptake under atmospheric corrosion for the evaluation of the susceptibility of high-strength steels. Our studies of hydrogen embrittle properties of high-strength steels with 1100 to 1500 MPa of tensile strength and a prototype ultrahigh-strength steel with 1760 MPa containing hydrogen traps using those methods are reviewed in this article. A power law relationship between notch tensile strength of hydrogen-precharged specimens and diffusible hydrogen content has been found. It has also been found that the local stress and the local hydrogen concentration are controlling factors of fracture. The results obtained by using SSRT after CCT and outdoor exposure test were in good agreement with the hydrogen embrittlement fracture property obtained by means of long-term exposure tests of bolts made of the high-strength steels.     

遗传规划在电化学法检测转子钢热脆性中的应用

在汽轮机转子钢热脆性电化学法无损检测技术的开发中,将遗传规划法应用到30Cr2MoV钢脆性转变温度预测模型的建立中,以提高其检测精度.把材料的脆性转变温度作为预测模型的因变量,将动电位再活化法测得的二次活化峰电流密度、电解液温度、材料的化学成分参数(J参数)、材料中Cr含量和晶粒度作为自变量.将因变量和自变量的试验测定结果分为训练样本数据和检验样本数据.依据训练样本数据,经过遗传规划法求得最优预测模型,并用检验样本数据对所得的预测模型进行检验.结果表明,所得预测模型的预测误差为士20℃,模型精度比采用传统的多元线性回归法得到的模型高1倍多.因此,可以将遗传规划法应用到汽轮机转子钢预测模型的建立中.     

异步轧制TWIP钢的力学性能和微观组织

 利用金相显微镜、X射线衍射仪和透射电子显微镜对异步轧制及热处理TWIP钢的力学性能与微观组织进行了研究。结果表明,TWIP钢经500℃异步轧制后强度显著提高,而塑性降低,这是位错与孪晶共同作用的结果。轧制后的热处理降低了位错密度以及变形孪晶数量,导致强度降低,伸长率升高。经600℃和700℃退火后,TWIP钢表现出良好的强度和塑性综合性能。因此,异步轧制后热处理是获得具有优良综合力学性能TWIP钢的可行途径。     

马钢车轮钢与国际车轮用钢标准的比较研究

1 前言 车轮轮箍是马钢最重要的标志产品。从1963年6月开始,伴随着我国铁路事业的发展,马钢共生产车轮轮箍专用钢472.33万t,轧制了数千万车轮轮箍,日夜不停地在65000 km铁道线上运转。 80年代末、90年代初,我国车轮钢生产采用1988年1月颁布的《铁路用辗钢整体车轮》(GB8601—88)标准,该标准参考的是前苏联ГOCT791—81标准。在生产检验中,钢种的理化性能均达到标准的要求,满足了当时列车运行速度的需要,但与国际先进的标准比较还有一定的差距。国际先进的车轮标     

Structure,Mechanical Properties and Fracture Surface Features of Structural Steels Subjected to Deformation-Heat Treatment

Metallurgist - A comparative study is made of the structure, mechanical properties and crack growth micromechanisms of 09G2S, 25 and 35X steel pipes after different versions of deformation and heat...     

Hydrogen Embrittlement Processes and AL／AL2O3 Hydrogen Resistance Coatings of NdFeB Magnets

After analyzing the phenomena and processes of hydrogen embrittlement of NdFeB permanent magnets, RF magnetron sputtering was used to fabricate A1 thin films and then oxidized to form the Al/Al2O3 composite films on the magnets as the hydrogen resistance coatings. SEM and EDS were used to examine the morphology and composition respectively. Hy-drogen resistance performance was tested by exposing the magnets in 10 MPa hydrogen gas at room temperature. The results show that the magnets with 8μm Al/Al2O3 coatings can withstand hydrogen of 10 MPa for 65 min without being embrittledinto powd er. The samples with and without hydrogen resistance coatings have almost the same magnetic properties.