Embrittlement of austenitic stainless steels by solute hydrogen

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7198618

Ulmer, D G

Mechanical properties of austenitic stainless steel were determined as a function of solute hydrogen concentration. Twenty-micron-thick foils of types 310s and 304 stainless steel were cathodically precharged to saturation and tested in tension at room temperature. X-ray diffraction experiments were performed to measure the lattice strains produced by the interstitial hydrogen and to identify and hydrogen induced phase transformations which might occur. A hydrogen embrittlement was proposed based on the locking of dislocations by hydrogen atmospheres. Hydrogen causes an increase in the yield and fracture stresses in the austenitic stainless steels. Hydrogen also causes planar slip needed for large dislocation pile-ups by limiting the number of active dislocation sources. The hydrogen atmospheres assist in blocking the Frank-Read sources near the pile-up and thereby prevent relief of the stress by dislocation movement. This would result in a brittle type fracture.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7198618
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALLOYS
AUSTENITIC STEELS
BRITTLENESS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DISLOCATIONS
EMBRITTLEMENT
FRACTURE MECHANICS
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LINE DEFECTS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NICKEL ALLOYS
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEEL-310
STAINLESS STEELS
STEEL-CR19NI10
STEEL-CR25NI20
STEELS
STRAINS