Session: MF-02-04 Materials for Hydrogen Service-High Alloy Materials 1

Paper Number: 123457

123457 - Tensile, Fatigue and Nano-Indentation Behavior of Hydrogen-Charged 304 Stainless Steels 

304 stainless steels have been widely used in pressure vessels and piping due to its combination of machinability, weldability and corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, 304 stainless steels are known to be susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement when employed in hydrogen facing applications. The underlying mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement in 304 stainless steel have not been fully understood, especially under fatigue loading conditions. In this investigation, we systematically examine the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement in 304 stainless steels through a comprehensive array of experimental techniques, including tensile, fatigue and nanoindentation tests. Comparative analysis with hydrogen-free specimens reveals that hydrogen-embrittled 304 stainless steel shows a comparable yield strength with significantly reduced ductility. Microstructural assessment subsequent to tensile testing of hydrogen charged materials highlights the emergence of unusual and numerous surface cracks oriented perpendicular to the loading axis on the gauge surface of hydrogen-charged specimens. The hydrogen embrittlement effect is also manifested in low cycle fatigue testing of hydrogen-charged specimens as well. The outcomes of our study have the potential to offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underpinning hydrogen embrittlement in 304 stainless steels which can be helpful for engineering steels with enhanced hydrogen embrittlement resistance, rendering it more suitable for deployment in pressure vessels and pipeline components intended for hydrogen transportation.

Presenting Author: Ting Yang Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Presenting Author Biography: Ting Yang received her B.S. from Beihang University and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. She currently works as a Postdoc Associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ting has over 15 publications. At MIT, she is working on hydrogen embrittlement of metals.

Authors:

Ting Yang Massachusetts Institute of Technology
T. A. Venkatesh Stony Brook University
Ming Dao Massachusetts Institute of Technology