Interpretation of complex, tensile-fracture phenomena in precipitation-hardened, martensitic stainless steels, 17-4PH, in presence of hydrogen

Hydrogen-induced ductility loss in two precipitation-hardened, martensitic stainless steels was investigated via tensile testing with internal hydrogen, revealing it to be more significant a higher hydrogen content or strength. A lower and strength resulted quasi-cleavage fracture considerable plastic strain, suggesting that hydrogen–dislocation interaction contributed the ductility. When either increased, intergranular cleavage surfaces were incorporated into surface, phenomenon attributed hydrogen-induced reduction of cohesive Such confirmed using impact tests at cryogenic temperatures, implying some mechanisms responsible for