Hydrogen embrittlement of a microalloyed bainitic forging steel

The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of a novel microalloyed bainitic forging steel with a strength level of 1100 MPa was evaluated using electrochemical charging and slow strain rate tensile test method with notched round bar specimens. The results show that the susceptibility to HE of the as-forged bainitic forging steel is notably higher than that of the quenched and tempered (Q&T) steel at same strength level, which is ascribed primarily to the presence of a relatively high amount of large blocky martensite/austenite (M/A) constituents of the former. It was found that low-temperature tempering treatment at 200 °C could significantly alleviate the susceptibility to HE by a relative decrease of ~ 35% of the as-forged bainitic forging steel at no expense of strength and ductility, though its resistance to HE is still a little lower than that of the Q&T steel. Thus, it is suggested that efforts concerning refining of the large blocky M/A through optimizing chemical composition and processing route could help to further alleviate the susceptibility to HE of the tested bainitic forging steel.