Influence of nitrogen alloying on hydrogen embrittlement in AISI 304-type stainless steels

Simo-Pekka Hannula, Hannu Hänninen, Seppo Tähtinen

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    40 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Hydrogen embrittlement of AISI 304-type austenitic stainless steels has been studied with special emphasis on the effects of the nitrogen content of the steels. Hydrogen charging was found to degrade the mechanical properties of all the steels studied, as measured by a tensile test. The fracture surfaces of hydrogen charged specimens were brittle cleavage-like whereas the uncharged specimens showed ductile, dimpled fracture. In sensitized materials transgranular cleavage mode of fracture was replaced by an intergranular mode of fracture and the losses of mechanical properties were higher. Nitrogen alloying decreased the hydrogen-induced losses of mechanical properties by increasing the stability of austenite. In sensitized steels the stability of austenite and nitrogen content were found to have only a minor effect on hydrogen embrittlement, except when sensitization had causedα′-martensite transformation at the grain boundaries.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2205-2211
    JournalMetallurgical Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science
    Volume15
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1984
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

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