The Influence of Hydrogen Charging with the Volume Fraction of Phases in Dual Phase Steels

A study on microstructure control of multi-phase steel have been implemented to higher strength with improved formability. However, it is well known that the high strength of steel are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. The mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement is caused by complex interactions. In this paper, the test specimens were fabricated to 5 type of 590DP steels at different levels of volume faction. The hydrogen charging was conducted by electrochemical hydrogen-charge method with varying charging time. The relationship between hydrogen concentration and volume fraction of 590DP steel was established by SP test and SEM-fractography. It was shown that the hydrogen amounts charged in 590DP steels increased with increasing the volume faction of austenite. The maximum loads of the 590DP steels in SP test were sharply decreased with increasing hydrogen charging time. The results of SEM-fractography investigation showed typical brittle-fracture surfaces for hydrogen-charged 590DP steels.