Hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steel electroplated with zinc-cobalt alloys

Slow strain rate tests were performed on quenched and tempered AISI 4340 steel to measure the extent of hydrogen embrittlement caused by electroplating with zinc-cobalt alloys. The effects of bath composition and pH were studied and compared with results for electrodeposited cadmium and zinc-10%nickel. It was found that zinc-1%cobalt alloy coatings caused serious hydrogen embrittlement (EI 0.63); almost as severe as that of cadmium (EI 0.78). Baking cadmium plated steel for 24 h at 200 °C gave full recovery of mechanical properties but specimens plated with zinc-1%cobalt and then baked still failed in 89% of the time of unplated controls. It was shown that hydrogen uptake and embrittlement could be controlled by depositing thin layers of cobalt or nickel at the steel/coating interface. For example, the least embrittlement was caused by zinc-10%nickel (EI 0.037) due to a nickel rich layer with very low hydrogen diffusion coefficient that formed during the initial stages of electroplating. Similarly, a 0.5 μm nickel layer was effective in lowering the embrittlement caused by zinc-1%cobalt to that of zinc-10%nickel. Furthermore, a 0.5 μm cobalt layer deposited before a zinc-1%cobalt coating gave virtually 100% recovery of mechanical properties after baking.     

Hydrogen embrittlement of high strength pipeline steels

A comparison was made between three API grade pipeline steels (X60, X80 and the X100 grade) from the point of view of their susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. The main aim was to determine whether the development of higher strength materials led to greater susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. This was achieved by straining at 2.8 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ after cathodic charging. The results showed that there is a distinct susceptibility to loss of ductility after charging and this tends to increase with the strength level of the steel at a charging current density above 0.44 mA mm⁻². All three steels exhibited fine cracks parallel to the major rolling direction after charging and an increasing amount of brittleness on the fracture surface.     

Hydrogen embrittlement risk of high strength galvanized steel in contact with alkaline media

The critical conditions for hydrogen embrittlement (HE) risk of high strength galvanized steel (HSGS) wires and tendons exposed to alkaline concrete pore solutions have been evaluated by means of electrochemical and mechanical testing.There is a relationship between the hydrogen embrittlement risk in HSGS and the length of hydrogen evolution process in alkaline media. The galvanized steel suffers anodic dissolution simultaneously to the hydrogen evolution which does not stop until the passivation process is completed. HSGS wires exposed to a very high alkaline media have showed HE risk with loss in mechanical properties only if long periods with hydrogen evolution process take place with a simultaneous intensive galvanized coating reduction.     

Hydrogen effusion from high strength weld metal

Abstract

Constant heating rate hydrogen thermal analyses were carried out for weld metals with tensile strengths in the range 490–1000 MPa. It was found that the hydrogen diffusion rate in the highest strength weld metal is lower by a factor of five than that in a lower strength variant. The hydrogen diffusion behaviour varied greatly between weld metal and wrought steel. Finite difference analyses indicated that this difference can be attributed to the changes in the interaction energy between a trap site and hydrogen. Using the analysis it was possible to determine apparent diffusion rates at temperatures from 20 to 300°C and explain satisfactorily the effect of plastic deformation on hydrogen diffusion in a steel.     

Hydrogen embrittlement of cathodically protected high strength steel in sea water and seabed sediment

Abstract

Hydrogen embrittlement tests were carried out using double cantilever beam and slow strain rate tensile specimens to measure the susceptibility of a 900 MPa yield strength steel in different marine environments, ranging from sterile sea water and filtered natural sea water to open sea water and seabed sediment. The cathodic protection potential and the presence of biologically generated sulphides in seabed sediment were shown to be important factors that controlled the extent of hydrogen uptake and embrittlement. Threshold stress intensities K_th were measured for each condition and the optimum cathodic protection potential to control corrosion with the minimum risk of embrittlement was established.     

热轧超高强度复相钢的氢脆敏感性

通过电化学充氢和升温脱氢分析(TDS)试验,研究了热轧超高强度复相钢M950的氢逸出行为和氢陷阱类型。利用慢应变速率拉伸(SSRT)试验,研究了M950钢的氢脆敏感性,并采用场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)分析了拉伸断口的微观形貌。结果表明,试验钢的氢陷阱激活能为15.0 kJ/mol,该钢的主要氢陷阱为晶界。随着电化学充氢时间的延长,试验钢氢含量逐渐增加,塑性明显下降,但抗拉强度下降幅度较小;拉伸断口形貌由微孔聚集型韧性断裂向准解理、沿晶脆性断裂过渡。     

Hydrogen embrittlement properties of heat affected zone of high strength steel in shielded metal arc welding

Corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and hydrogen embrittlement were investigated from an electrochemical view, with the slow strain rate test (SSRT) method with applied constant cathodic potential. Fracture surface was analyzed by SEM. Corrosion resistance and mechanical properties were increased by post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) compared to those in the as-welded condition. Elongation and time-to-fracture were decreased with shifting cathodic polarization potential to the low potential direction. On analysis of SEM fractography, the quasi-cleavage (Q.C) fracture mode was also observed with an increase of susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. At the applied cathodic potential between −770 mV and −875 mV (SCE; saturated calomel electrode), the fracture morphology was of the dimple pattern with ductile fracture, while it changed to the transgranular pattern at under −900 mV (SCE). Eventually it is suggested that an optimum cathodic protection potential range was from −770 mV to −875 mV (SCE) without regard to PWHT condition.     

Measurement and prediction of hydrogen embrittlement in high strength carbon steel

Abstract

Hydrogen embrittlement tests were performed on 0·254 mm diameter BS 5216 M4 high strength carbon steel wire using constant loads to give initial tensile stresses in the range 48–91% ultimate tensile stress. The wires were electrolytically charged with hydrogen in 4%H₂SO₄ at current densities of 75 and 150 mA cm^–2. The failure times at each applied stress and charging rate were displayed on Weibull statistical plots and shown to correlate with a diffusion model of hydrogen transport. At high stresses, crack initiation occurred rapidly and the failure time was controlled by the rate of inward hydrogen diffusion to maintain a threshold concentration for crack propagation. At low applied stresses, crack initiation required a higher hydrogen concentration and occurred more slowly. In this case, the failure time was controlled by the size and location of the significant microstructural flaw at which crack initiation occurred. The model enabled failure times to be predicted in specimens with differing dimensions.     

高强度桥梁钢焊接接头疲劳性能的研究

利用高频疲劳试验机对高强度桥梁钢焊接接头测定了应力比R>0条件下的应力.循环次数(S-N)曲线,并对疲劳断口进行观察.系统分析疲劳裂纹的形成、扩展以及瞬断过程.结果表明,高强度桥梁钢焊接接头在R>O条件下的疲劳极限为470 MPa,稍低于焊接接头的屈服强度,应力幅σ与循环次数,N的关系为lgN=36.9-13.743 81gσ;在较高应力幅下的疲劳裂纹起源于试样表面的某种缺陷,在较低加载应力幅下的疲劳裂纹起源于大尺寸的夹杂物;疲劳扩展区断口微观形貌为疲劳辉纹和微坑,在微坑中可以观察到第二相粒子,局部区域可以观察到二次裂纹;瞬断区断口形貌具有典型的韧窝特征.     

高强度钢焊缝金属氢控制研究进展

综述了对高强度钢焊接接头氢控制的现有方法,重点总结了高强度钢焊缝金属氢控制方面的一些研究进展.包括:选择合适的焊缝金属马氏体的转变温度,可以有效地促进氢向母材扩散,进而降低氢致裂纹的危险;高强度钢焊缝金属中不可避免存在的一定量的残余奥氏体,虽然有固化氢的作用,但在低温或受外力作用时转变成马氏体,成为对氢致裂纹敏感的组织;利用钕钇等稀土元素在焊缝组织中制造强氢陷阱,可以固化大量的氢,从而减少焊缝金属中的扩散氢;焊接熔渣的溶氢能力的提高,可以减少氢向焊缝金属的分配,从而降低焊缝金属的扩散氢.     

高强度低合金结构钢焊缝与母材的强度匹配研究

焊缝金属与母材的强度匹配系数是焊接接头力学性能非均匀参数之一，匹配方式不仅取决于焊缝金属和母材的名义强度，还取决于它们的分布形式和特征参数。试验和统计计算结果表明，12Ni3CrMoV钢和10Ni5CrMoV钢母材和焊缝金属的抗拉强度都服从正态分布。12Ni3CrMoV钢和其焊缝金属的强度匹配属于低强匹配，其低强、等强和超强匹配的概率分别为59.33%,37.03%和3.64%,低强匹配特征明显。10Ni5CrMoV钢和其焊缝金属的强度匹配属于等强匹配，其低强、等强和超强匹配概率分别为47%,48%和5%，其等强匹配分布比较明显。对应的两种钢的焊接接头，其超强匹配概率分别为3.64%和5%，在结构、焊接材料、工艺设计中值得注意。由于强度匹配系数的随机性，如何确定强度匹配系数，在什么范围内分别属于超强、等强、低强匹配，特别是等强匹配的界定方式应有别于低强和超强匹配，都是有特研究的问题。     

Role of inclusions in formation of high strength steel weld metal microstructures

Abstract

A series of high strength weld metals with varying Al content are studied. The inclusions are characterised using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and electron diffraction. The tendency for alignment of the microstructure is characterised quantitatively using electron backscatter diffraction and a recently developed post-processing technique. Correlation is found between the inclusion phases present and the amount of aligned neighbouring grains in the microstructure. It is shown that amorphous Si–Al oxides form at low Al weld metal contents and an Mg–Al spinel at higher contents. The former is associated with less alignment of the microstructure and therefore higher impact toughness. The effect of these inclusions on the formation of the microstructure is discussed.     

高强钢与铝合金电阻点焊性能

针对高强钢DP590和铝合金Al6061利用电阻点焊专业有限元软件SORPAS进行模拟分析,分析了钢-铝点焊熔核形成过程的三个阶段,阐述了钢-铝电阻点焊的非对称温度场分布特点及由此产生的熔核偏移和双熔核特征;通过EDS等检测手段结合宏微观金相组织及试验过程中实测的焊接区动态电阻,揭示出点焊接头形成过程即熔融成液态的铝合金在钢-铝界面处向高强钢润湿铺展并扩散而形成熔-钎焊接头;焊接过程中铝原子扩散到钢中的原子分数达到40%左右,形成钢铝晶间化合物的厚度小于2μm.     

高强钢焊接接头扩散氢行为研究

针对900 MPa钢级高强钢,采用甘油法测试焊接接头中扩散氢含量,并研究焊后放置72 h内扩散氢的逸出规律.研究结果表明,试板装瓶后0.5～12 h时,扩散氢的逸出速度很快,逸出量比较大,可以达到总逸出量的90％;在12～24 h这一时间区间内,扩散氢逸出速度变慢;在24～72 h时间内,扩散氢逸出量基本维持不变.由此看出,在焊接后24 h内,熔敷金属中的扩散氢已经逸出怠尽.本研究结果也表明对高强钢焊接结构进行消氢处理时必须在焊后尽快进行,否则消氢处理的意义不大.     

Hydrogen embrittlement of stainless steel overlay materials for hydrogenators

An investigation was carried out of the effect of hydrogen absorption on the tensile ductility of composite specimens representing stainless steel weld overlays on low alloy steel substrates as used in the fabrication of hydrogenators. Specimens of the two stainless steels (AISI 309 and 347) involved in hydrogen cracking were also fractured in tension at strain rates between 5.9 × 10⁻⁶ and 1.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ after thermal charging with hydrogen. Results indicated that only the 347 samples suffered significant embrittlement by hydrogen and the original ductility could be restored by subsequent annealing for a time and temperature determined by the hydrogen diffusivity.