Dependence of hydrogen embrittlement on annealing time in medium-Mn steels
Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials
ISSN: 0003-5599
Article publication date: 9 September 2021
Issue publication date: 17 September 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the soft annealing time on the microstructure and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of Fe-0.22C-11.54Mn-2.05Al steels.
Design/methodology/approach
Steels A and B with different morphologies were prepared by cold rolling after warm rolling, long/short softening annealing and finally annealing at 700 °C for 30 min. Uncharged and charged samples were subjected to tensile, and HE behavior was studied by electron backscattered diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Findings
The two samples exhibited similar tensile strengths. The homogeneous equiaxed microstructure of steel B was found to be more conducive to relieve its HE sensitivity. Steel A exhibited bimodal-grained microstructures – blocky and lath. The formation of crack in the blocky grains of steel A resulted in a significant reduction in its plasticity and tensile strength.
Originality/value
The high HE susceptibility of steel A is mainly connected with the inhomogeneity of martensite transformation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. U1760203 and 52071016.
Citation
Xu, J., Li, J., Wang, Z., Fu, H. and Wu, M. (2021), "Dependence of hydrogen embrittlement on annealing time in medium-Mn steels", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 68 No. 5, pp. 464-472. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-07-2021-2521
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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