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Hydrogen Embrittlement in Nickel-Base Superalloy 718

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Recent Developments in Analytical Techniques for Corrosion Research

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Abstract

Ni-base superalloy 718 is extensively employed in the oil, gas and aerospace industries since it exhibits an excellent combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. However, upon exposure to hydrogenating environments, mechanical properties of alloy 718 can be severely degraded due to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). Hydrogen embrittlement—known since the 1870s—refers to markedly reduced ductility and fracture toughness in metals and alloys. Various theories have been put forward to explain the precise mechanism by which hydrogen deteriorates mechanical behavior of structural materials. Hydrogen enhanced localized plasticity (HELP) and hydrogen enhanced decohesion (HEDE) are two of the commonly suggested mechanisms. Evidence for HELP, widely reported with the support of strong experimental work, suggests that the presence of hydrogen in the metallic lattice enhances mobility of dislocations, leading to regions of enhanced plasticity. This in turn leads to regions of high localized strains resulting in early crack initiation. On the other hand, the hydrogen enhanced decohesion (HEDE) mechanism relies on the ability of hydrogen to reduce bond strength, especially at weaker interfaces, resulting in decohesion and early fracture. Despite being an active area of research for decades, a model that could predict how and when failure will occur due to hydrogen embrittlement remains elusive. Lately, it has been recognized that the various suggested mechanisms may be active simultaneously, with one or more of them dominating based on the weak sites in the material and the specific environmental conditions. In alloy 718, one of the weak sites is reported to be the interface of the δ-phase, which forms primarily along grain boundaries, and the matrix. In other works, nanovoid nucleation at intersection of dislocation slip bands (DSBs) are shown to result in crack initiation. Furthermore, grain boundaries can also act as weak sites causing intergranular hydrogen embrittlement by decohesion. In this review, we will first introduce the microstructure of alloy 718. Then, studies on the interplay between microstructural features and mechanical properties of alloy 718 in the presence of hydrogen are reviewed. Furthermore, the applicability, merits, and demerits of hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms for alloy 718 are discussed. Finally, some unanswered questions and avenues of future research are briefly discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The research was funded through NPRP Grant # 11S-1129-170045 from Qatar National Research Fund (A member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. The authors thank the Mechanical Engineering Department at TAMU Qatar for the facilities and support provided.

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  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Hamza Khalid & B. Mansoor

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    B. Mansoor

  3. Mechanical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    B. Mansoor

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  1. Hamza Khalid
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    Ihsan ulhaq Toor

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Khalid, H., Mansoor, B. (2022). Hydrogen Embrittlement in Nickel-Base Superalloy 718. In: Toor, I.u. (eds) Recent Developments in Analytical Techniques for Corrosion Research . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89101-5_13

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