Study on Hydrogen Diffusion and Sulfide Stress Cracking Behaviors of Simulated Heat-Affected Zone of A516-65 Grade Pressure Vessel Carbon Steel

Hydrogen diffusion and sulfide stress cracking of simulated heat-affected zone (HAZ) of A516-65 grade steel were examined using an electrochemical permeation technique, glycerin volumetric method, and constant loading method. HAZ samples were fabricated using a metal thermal cycle simulator with a welding heat input of 20, 35, and 50 kJ/cm. The fractions of bainite and martensite-austenite (M-A) constituent in coarse-grained HAZ (CGHAZ) and intercritical HAZ (ICHAZ) obtained by a simulated thermal cycle with a low heat input (20 kJ/cm) were higher than those with a higher heat input. These fractions contributed to the increase in the reversible hydrogen trap density (N_[H]rev) and reversibly trapped hydrogen concentrations (C_rev). Although CGHAZ had higher N_[H]rev and C_rev meaning that it is more likely to be vulnerable to brittle failure by hydrogen, actual fracture by sulfide stress cracking (SSC) occurred in ICHAZ composed of a mixture of soft ferrite/pearlite, and hard bainite and M-A. The hydrogen diffusion/trapping parameters, which were obtained from the electrochemical permeation or glycerin method, cannot be directly indicative of the resistance to SSC of the steel in a H₂S environment. The susceptibility to SSC was more influenced by the level of M-A-localization and localized corrosion attack, acting as a stress intensifier under a tensile load.