Internal hydrogen effects on tensile properties of iron- and nickel-base superalloys

Two nickel-base alloys [superalloys INCONEL 718 (IN718) and INCONEL 625 (IN625)] and one iron-base superalloy (A286) were chosen to study the effects of internal H charging on their room-temperature slow strain rate mechanical behavior. Uniform internal H contents ranged from 0 to 50 wt ppm H (0 to 3000 at. ppm H), and a strain rate of 8.5 X 10^-7 m/s was used with notched strip specimens. The three alloys showed varying losses in strength and ductility, and the strongest alloy, IN718, showed a decrease of 67 pet in ductility for a dissolved H content of 40 wt ppm. Superalloy A286 showed a corresponding 50 pet decrease in ductility, and IN625 showed a 29 pet loss in ductility. Fractographic evidence and the marked decrease in strength of the alloys lead the authors to conclude that the enhanced localized plasticity mechanism for H embrittlement is possibly operative in these face-centered cubic (fcc) alloys.