Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel
Cold deformation-induced martensitic transformation in 304 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) increases its susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). In this study, low-temperature carburizing (LTC) was performed on cold worked 304 ASS. Its effect on the mechanical properties and HE was investiga...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425012803 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850260992351535104 |
|---|---|
| author | Xiao Qin Lars Nyborg Huiqun Liu Alexandra Bauer Yu Cao |
| author_facet | Xiao Qin Lars Nyborg Huiqun Liu Alexandra Bauer Yu Cao |
| author_sort | Xiao Qin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cold deformation-induced martensitic transformation in 304 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) increases its susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). In this study, low-temperature carburizing (LTC) was performed on cold worked 304 ASS. Its effect on the mechanical properties and HE was investigated by electrochemical cathodic hydrogen charging and slow strain rate tensile test. Microstructure, fractography, and hydrogen uptake were analyzed to examine the hydrogen-induced failure. It has been found that LTC introduced the expanded austenite on the steel surface, which increased strength and surface hardness but reduced the elongation. LTC increased the initial strain hardening rate and suppressed strain-induced martensitic transformation, showing higher strain rate sensitivity. Hydrogen uptake caused loss of ductility and formation of a quasi-cleavage layer with some cracks on the surface of the steel. The HE resistance was significantly improved by LTC treatment. Cold-worked 304 showed a higher HE index due to the martensitic transformation and a higher hydrogen concentration. The remarkably reduced susceptibility to HE by LTC treatment was attributed to the carbon stabilized austenite and consequently inhibited martensite transformation, as well as compressive stress in the expanded austenite. These factors reduce hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen uptake. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de0c170c07e341aba7cd34adce272844 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2238-7854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-de0c170c07e341aba7cd34adce2728442025-08-20T01:55:31ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-05-01368816882510.1016/j.jmrt.2025.05.125Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steelXiao Qin0Lars Nyborg1Huiqun Liu2Alexandra Bauer3Yu Cao4Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 41296, Sweden; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, PR ChinaDepartment of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 41296, SwedenSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, PR ChinaBodycote Specialist Technologies GmbH, 86899, Landsberg, GermanyDepartment of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 41296, Sweden; Corresponding author.Cold deformation-induced martensitic transformation in 304 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) increases its susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). In this study, low-temperature carburizing (LTC) was performed on cold worked 304 ASS. Its effect on the mechanical properties and HE was investigated by electrochemical cathodic hydrogen charging and slow strain rate tensile test. Microstructure, fractography, and hydrogen uptake were analyzed to examine the hydrogen-induced failure. It has been found that LTC introduced the expanded austenite on the steel surface, which increased strength and surface hardness but reduced the elongation. LTC increased the initial strain hardening rate and suppressed strain-induced martensitic transformation, showing higher strain rate sensitivity. Hydrogen uptake caused loss of ductility and formation of a quasi-cleavage layer with some cracks on the surface of the steel. The HE resistance was significantly improved by LTC treatment. Cold-worked 304 showed a higher HE index due to the martensitic transformation and a higher hydrogen concentration. The remarkably reduced susceptibility to HE by LTC treatment was attributed to the carbon stabilized austenite and consequently inhibited martensite transformation, as well as compressive stress in the expanded austenite. These factors reduce hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen uptake.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425012803Low-temperature carburizingAustenitic stainless steelHydrogen embrittlementExpanded austenite |
| spellingShingle | Xiao Qin Lars Nyborg Huiqun Liu Alexandra Bauer Yu Cao Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel Journal of Materials Research and Technology Low-temperature carburizing Austenitic stainless steel Hydrogen embrittlement Expanded austenite |
| title | Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel |
| title_full | Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel |
| title_fullStr | Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel |
| title_short | Low-temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel |
| title_sort | low temperature carburizing improves hydrogen embrittlement resistance of cold worked 304 austenitic stainless steel |
| topic | Low-temperature carburizing Austenitic stainless steel Hydrogen embrittlement Expanded austenite |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425012803 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaoqin lowtemperaturecarburizingimproveshydrogenembrittlementresistanceofcoldworked304austeniticstainlesssteel AT larsnyborg lowtemperaturecarburizingimproveshydrogenembrittlementresistanceofcoldworked304austeniticstainlesssteel AT huiqunliu lowtemperaturecarburizingimproveshydrogenembrittlementresistanceofcoldworked304austeniticstainlesssteel AT alexandrabauer lowtemperaturecarburizingimproveshydrogenembrittlementresistanceofcoldworked304austeniticstainlesssteel AT yucao lowtemperaturecarburizingimproveshydrogenembrittlementresistanceofcoldworked304austeniticstainlesssteel |