Hydrogen embrittlement of super duplex stainless steel – Towards understanding the effects of microstructure and strain

The effects of austenite spacing, hydrogen charging, and applied tensile strain on the local Volta potential evolution and micro-deformation behaviour of grade 2507 (UNS S32750) super duplex stainless steel were studied. A novel in-situ methodological approach using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM) was employed. The microstructure with small austenite spacing showed load partitioning of tensile micro-strains to the austenite during elastic loading, with the ferrite then taking up most tensile strain at large plastic deformation. The opposite trend was seen when the microstructure was pre-charged with hydrogen, with more intense strain localisation formed due to local hydrogen hardening. The hydrogen-charged microstructure with large austenite spacing showed a contrasting micro-mechanical response, resulting in heterogeneous strain localisation with high strain intensities in both phases in the elastic regime. The austenite was hydrogen-hardened, whereas the ferrite became more strain-hardened. SKPFM measured Volta potentials revealed the development of local cathodic sites in the ferrite associated with hydrogen damage (blister), with anodic sites related to trapped hydrogen and/or micro voids in the microstructure with small austenite spacing. Discrete cathodic sites with large Volta potential variations across the ferrite were seen in the coarse-grained microstructure, indicating enhanced susceptibility to micro-galvanic activity. Microstructures with large austenite spacing were more susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement, related to the development of tensile strains in the ferrite.     

Performance Optimization of Cold Rolled Type 316L Stainless Steel by Sand Blasting and Surface Linishing Treatment

Sand blasting followed by a surface linishing treatment was applied to optimize the near-surface microstructure of cold rolled type 316L stainless steel. The introduction of cold rolling led to the formation of α-martensite. Specimens with large thickness reductions (40, 53%) were more susceptible to localized corrosion. The application of sand blasting produced a near-surface deformation layer containing compressive residual stresses with significantly increased surface roughness, resulting in reduced corrosion resistance. The most resistant microstructure was obtained with the application of a final linishing treatment after sand blasting. This treatment produced microstructures with compressive near-surface residual stresses, reduced surface roughness, and increased resistance to localized corrosion.     

Accessing the full spectrum of corrosion behaviour of tempered type 420 stainless steel

Bipolar electrochemistry produces a linear potential gradient between two feeder electrodes, providing access to the full spectrum of anodic-to-cathodic electrochemical behaviour. A type 420 martensitic stainless steel has been used to investigate microstructure evolution and corrosion behaviour with application of different tempering heat treatments. Tempering treatments at 250°C, 400°C and 700°C revealed the occurrence of pitting corrosion, with treatments at 550°C resulting in general and intergranular corrosion. Cr₂₃C₆ was present in all tempering conditions, with Cr₇C₃ and CrC only observed for tempering at 550°C. The 250°C tempering treatment had the highest corrosion resistance with a hardness value much higher than 500 HV.     

Measurement of physical constants using noise

Measuring physical constants by examining suitable types of noise has a long history. In this experiment, in contrast to previous works, the computer does much of the data gathering and processing. Once an undergraduate student understands the elements of the theory of thermal and shot noise, a little bit about Windows commands that interface with the SoundBlaster, and something of the filter design using MATLAB, the student will be able to design the apparatus and implement the measurements described in this article. Using well-known formulas for thermal and shot noise, we designed experiments for measuring two physical constants: the Boltzmann constant and the charge on the electron. We were able to perform the experiments in a particularly simple fashion by making use of widely available computer-based measurement and processing tools. In particular, the measurement of the Boltzmann constant only required one operational amplifier and three resistors. Our measurements achieved reasonable accuracies, considering the nature of the instruments with which we performed the measurements. The experiments are well suited to use in a laboratory setting, and they allow one to see some of the connections between random noise, physics and signal processing.     

Designing a secure data-logger [Instrumentation Notes]

There are many measurement applications in which it is not sufficient to store the measurements. It is often necessary to prove that the stored data have not been altered since the measurement was made. In a previous column [1], we discussed the general theory of one of these methods. This column gives the details. The method has two basic steps. Given a sequence of measurements, first find a number that is easy to derive from the sequence but which changes if the recorded measurements are altered using cryptographic hash functions. The second step is for the storage device to encrypt the representative number, the hash value, so that the mere fact that a particular key decrypts the number shows who encrypted the number.     

Limitations of the describing function for limit cycle prediction

We consider comparator-based nonlinear feedback systems, and use Tsypkin's method to develop a strategy with which to find systems with low-pass linear part for which the describing function technique erroneously predicts limit cycles. We produce an infinite set of examples of systems with very low-pass linear parts for which the describing function technique predicts spurious limit cycles, and also provide a more practical example in which limit cycles are erroneously predicted.     

Surface grain boundary engineering of shot-peened type 304 stainless steel

The effect of thermal annealing on shot-peened Type 304 stainless steel has been examined using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The objective was to evaluate the potential for surface property control by grain boundary engineering. The near surface microstructure of shot-peened material showed a gradual change of the grain boundary character distribution with depth. Twin (Σ3) and higher order twin grain boundaries (Σ9, Σ27) identified closer to the shot-peened surface had significant deviations from their optimum misorientation. The subsequent application of annealing treatments caused depth-dependent changes of the near surface microstructure, with variations in grain size, low Σ CSL grain boundary populations and their deviation from optimum misorientation. Microstructure developments were dependent on the applied heat treatment, with the near surface microstructures showing similarities to microstructures obtained through bulk thermo-mechanical processing. Shot peening, followed by annealing, may therefore be used to control the near surface microstructure of components.     

A more general approach to the filter sharpening technique of Kaiser and Hamming

Over the years, several authors have described a simple technique for filter sharpening. We present a simple explanation of how filter sharpening works and when it will not work. We show that filter sharpening is more broadly applicable than previously noted. We also show that even when filter sharpening does not work in the accepted sense, it still improves the filter's performance.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resins with reversible crosslinks

The tensile properties: Young's modulus, ultimate tensile strength, ultimate elongation, the glass transition temperature, and the dynamic mechanical properties (dynamic shear modulus (G'), loss tangent (Tan δ)), of three epoxy resins (Epon 828, Epon 836, Epon HPT 1071) cured with the disulfide-containing crosslinking agent—4.4-dithiodianilme (DTDA) have been characterized. The results show that DTDA is a satisfactory crosslinking agent for the epoxide resins that have been studied as compared to the well-known curing agent methylene dianiline (MDA). There are no significant differences between the properties of Epon 828 cured with DTDA at stoichiometric ratio (2:1) and Epon 828 cured with DTDA at small amine excess ratio (1.75:1). The glass transition temperature of the cured tetrafunctional epoxy resin Epon HPT 1971 (235°C) is significantly higher than that of difunctional epoxy resins such as Epon 828 (T_g–175°C), but the product is too brittle to be used without plasticizer.