International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.43, No.6, 3342-3352, 2018
Effects of alpha ' martensite and deformation twin on hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth in cold/warm-rolled type 304 stainless steel
The effects of alpha' martensite and deformation twin on hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth (FCG) were investigated in cold/warm-rolled type 304 stainless steel in 5 MPa hydrogen and argon gas atmosphere. The rate of FCG is reduced in argon gas, while greatly enhanced in hydrogen gas after cold-rolling. The FCG rates of warm-rolled specimens, no matter tested in hydrogen gas or argon gas, are reduced comparing with as-received specimens. After cold-rolling, alpha' martensite formed around the grain boundary promotes hydrogen-assisted crack initiation and propagation. The deformation twin plays an important role during FCG besides alpha' martensite after warm-rolling, and hydrogen-assisted cracking along the twin boundary and slip band can enhance the FCG rate during cycle loading. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Cold/warm rolling;Fatigue crack growth;alpha ' martensite;Deformation twin;Hydrogen environment embrittlement