Effect of deoxidation practice and heat treatment on the hydrogen attack of carbon steels

The hydrogen attack (HA) kinetics of an electroslag refined (ESR) and a rare earth metal (REM)-treated steel in the Q. and T. condition were investigated by a highly sensitive dilatometer. Measured activation energies for bubble growth of 108 to 203 kJ/mol and pressure exponents of 0.9 to 1.6 are rationalized in terms of surface or grain boundary self-diffusion of iron as the rate controlling mechanisms depending on the external hydrogen pressure and temperature. Comparisons of the HA susceptibility of these steels with published work show that although the HA resistance of the ESR steel is not influenced by the heat treatment, the REM steel shows a significant decrease in the rate of sample expansion. SEM observations indicate that the improvement in the HA resistance of the REM steel is related to the presence of a very low density of methane bubbles.