Hydrogen induced cracks were introduced in an ultra-low carbon (ULC) steel by subjecting it to electrochemical hydrogen charging. The damage characteristics were investigated for three material conditions, i.e. cold deformed, recovered, and recrystallized state. The aim of the work was to understand the effect of deformation induced defects on the hydrogen induced cracking of this material. Additionally, the effect of the charging conditions, i.e. charging time and current density, on the cracking characteristics were verified. The blister surfaces and related hydrogen induced cracks were studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Deformed samples were considerably more sensitive to hydrogen induced cracking, which demonstrates the important role of dislocations in hydrogen induced damage mechanisms. Permeation tests were performed in order to elucidate the role of hydrogen diffusion in the process. Charging conditions had a clear influence on the hydrogen induced cracking behavior of the material. This should be taken into account when designing experimental parameters in order to obtain results valid under real life conditions.@en

The hydrogen induced damage of generic Fe-C-Ti and Fe-C-V ferritic alloys was investigated to assess the influence of precipitates on the hydrogen sensitivity of a material. The precipitates, formed during heat treatment, were evaluated by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The hydrogen/material interaction was evaluated by: 1) melt and hot extraction to determine the total and diffusible hydrogen content, respectively, 2) permeation experiments to calculate the diffusion coefficient, 3) thermal desorption spectroscopy to determine the hydrogen trapping characteristics of the materials. Furthermore, two different types of hydrogen induced damage were evaluated, i.e. hydrogen assisted cracking and blistering, resulting from electrochemical hydrogen charging with and without the application of an external load, respectively. Evaluation of the hydrogen induced damage and the role of the precipitates was performed by combining optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). An important though divertive role of diffusible hydrogen is observed in both damage mechanisms for the investigated microstructures. On the one hand, a large amount of diffusible hydrogen compared to strongly trapped hydrogen promotes hydrogen assisted cracking of materials, while on the other hand, the blistering phenomenon is delayed under such conditions.@en

The present work evaluates hydrogen induced cracking by performing an elaborate EBSD (Electron BackScatter Diffraction) study in a steel with transformation induced plasticity (TRIP-assisted steel). This type of steel exhibits a multiphase microstructure which undergoes a deformation induced phase transformation. Additionally, each microstructural constituent displays a different behavior in the presence of hydrogen. The aim of this study is to obtain a better understanding on the mechanisms governing hydrogen induced crack initiation and propagation in the hydrogen saturated multiphase structure. Tensile tests on notched samples combined with in-situ electrochemical hydrogen charging were conducted. The tests were interrupted at stresses just after reaching the tensile strength, i.e. before macroscopic failure of the material. This allowed to study hydrogen induced crack initiation and propagation by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EBSD. A correlation was found between the presence of martensite, which is known to be very susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement, and the initiation of hydrogen induced cracks. Initiation seems to occur mostly by martensite decohesion. High strain regions surrounding the hydrogen induced crack tips indicate that further crack propagation may have occurred by the HELP (hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity) mechanism. Small hydrogen induced cracks located nearby the notch are typically S-shaped and crack propagation was dominantly transgranularly. The second stage of crack propagation consists of stepwise cracking by coalescence of small hydrogen induced cracks.@en

The hydrogen induced blistering and internal cracking behavior of a TRIP-assisted (Transformation Induced Plasticity) high strength steel is investigated. TRIP-assisted steels are multiphase steels with a microstructure consisting out of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and some martensite. Each microstructural constituent demonstrates a different behavior in the presence of hydrogen. Additionally, such steels exhibit an austenite to martensite transformation upon deformation, which influences the hydrogen induced crack formation of the material. In order to assess this influence and to better understand the interaction of such a multiphase material with hydrogen, the hydrogen induced cracking effect is evaluated for a TRIP-assisted steel in the undeformed and cold deformed, i.e. 10% by tensile deformation, condition. The austenite/martensite phase ratio differs for both conditions, allowing one to evaluate the impact of the TRIP effect on the hydrogen sensitivity of the material. The materials are cathodically charged with hydrogen at various charging conditions, i.e. charging time and current density, in order to assess their sensitivity to hydrogen induced cracking. Subsequently, crack initiation and propagation is investigated by microstructural analysis using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Hydrogen induced crack initiation occurs preferably at martensitic islands, while crack propagation takes place along segregation lines, which also consist of martensite networks. Increased deformation leads to less internal crack initiation, but to a more outspoken crack propagation. On the one hand, deformation leads to strain hardening of the material, which leads to an increase of the critical hydrogen pressure necessary for internal crack initiation. On the other hand, deformation of TRIP-assisted steel results in the formation of martensite and provides a more favorable crack path for continuous crack propagation. Moreover, the synergetic effect of hydrogen induced and assisted cracking mechanisms is illustrated.@en

The present work evaluates hydrogen induced cracking in a TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) assisted steel and pure iron. The goal of this work is to understand the effect of the macroscopic stress distribution in the material on the hydrogen induced cracking phenomenon. Additionally, the effect of a complex multiphase microstructure on the characteristics of hydrogen induced cracking was investigated by comparing results for TRIP-assisted steel and pure iron as reference material. Tensile tests on notched and unnotched samples combined with in-situ electrochemical hydrogen charging were conducted. Tests were performed until the tensile strength was reached and until fracture. The resulting hydrogen induced cracks were studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hydrogen induced cracks showed a typical S-shape and crack propagation was mainly transgranular, independently of the presence of a notch or the material's microstructure. This was also the case for the V-shaped secondary crack network and resulting stepped crack morphology characteristic for hydrogen induced damage. These observations indicate that the stress state surrounding the crack tip has a very large impact on the hydrogen induced cracking characteristics. The use of a notch or the presence of a different microstructure did not influence the overall hydrogen induced cracking features, but did change the kinetics of the hydrogen induced cracking process.@en

The present work evaluates hydrogen induced cracking in a TRIP-assisted steel with a multiphase microstructure, containing ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and some martensite. When deformed, the retained austenite transforms to martensite, which changes the phase balance in the alloy. Each microstructural constituent demonstrates a different behavior in the presence of hydrogen. The goal of this work is to understand the response of the hydrogen saturated multiphase structure to a mechanical load. Tensile tests on notched samples combined with in-situ electrochemical hydrogen charging were conducted. The test was interrupted at specific points, before the macroscopic failure of the material. Hydrogen induced crack initiation and propagation were examined by studying the microstructure at several intermediate elongations. Characteristic hydrogen induced cracks were only observed after reaching tensile strength and were located at the surface in a specific pattern. Finite element simulations indicated that the observed crack pattern coincides with the increased stress regions induced by the notch presence. This indicates that hydrogen induced crack formation is dominantly stress induced for this steel.@en