Hydrogen embrittlement of a stainless ball bearing steel

Ball bearing steels are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement caused by lubricant degradation. It has been shown that hydrogen embrittlement of 440C stainless steels is associated with the existence of M₇C₃ carbides. The behaviour of M₇C₃ carbides during hydrogen embrittlement was investigated by classical rotating beam fatigue and tensile tests of specimens into which hydrogen had been introduced by cathodic charging. The effects of the current density, the time and the stress of charging and the relaxation time between charging and mechanical testing were assessed. The hydrogen embrittlement was characterized by using tritiated water. High resolution autoradiography and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the location of the hydrogen in the martensitic matrix relative to the M₇C₃ carbides and to the interfaces between the M₇C₃ carbides and small M₂₃C₆ carbides.