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Microstructural Effect on Hydrogen Embrittlement of High Nitrogen Chromium-Manganese Steel

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Abstract

The effect of the density of grain boundaries (austenite/austenite) and phase boundaries (austenite/particle) on hydrogen embrittlement was studied in high nitrogen austenitic steel Fe-19Cr-21Mn-1.3V-0.2С-0.8N (mass %). Experiments revealed that the microscopic structural parameters such as lattice distortions, phase and grain boundaries affect the macromechanical behavior of the hydrogen-charged steel. With increasing density of grain and phase boundaries and decreasing lattice distortion of the austenitic phase, hydrogen atoms absorbed during electrolytic hydrogen charging are redistributed from interstitial positions in austenitic grains to the boundaries. This leads to a decrease in hydrogen-assisted solid solution strengthening of austenite, reduces the hydrogen-induced increase in the steel yield stress, and suppresses transgranular but promotes intergranular fracture of the hydrogen-affected layer in the tensile specimens. It was experimentally shown that an increase in the grain boundary density only, with other structural parameters unchanged, slightly improves the resistance of steel to the negative effects of hydrogen, while an increase in the total density of grain and phase boundaries has the opposite effect.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Cand. Phys.-Math. Sci. N.K. Galchenko, E.V. Melnikov, Cand. Phys.-Math. Sci. S.V. Astafurov, K.A. Reunova, and V.A. Moskvina for help in preparing materials and conducting experimental studies.

Funding

The study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project number 20-38-90129, and was performed according to the government statement of work for ISPMS SB RAS, research line FWRW-2022-0005.

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  1. Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 634055, Tomsk, Russia

    M. Yu. Panchenko, A. S. Nifontov & E. G. Astafurova

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  1. M. Yu. Panchenko
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  2. A. S. Nifontov
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Correspondence to E. G. Astafurova.

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Translated from Fizicheskaya Mezomekhanika, 2022, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 84–97.

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Panchenko, M.Y., Nifontov, A.S. & Astafurova, E.G. Microstructural Effect on Hydrogen Embrittlement of High Nitrogen Chromium-Manganese Steel. Phys Mesomech 25, 453–465 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1029959922050083

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