Derivation of property distribution images from microstructural analyses of X2CrNi18-9 with regard to hydrogen embrittlement

The scope of this research project covers the examination of the microstructure of different austenitic steels with regard to H embrittlement. It is known from the literature that the alloy X2CrNi18-9 is susceptible to H embrittlement, whereas steel X2CrNiMo18-14-3 is highly resistant to the embrittlement process. Austenitic steels with a low γ stability are susceptible to form α^' martensite during plastic deformation. The γ stability can be estimated using empirical formulas, while one drawback of this approach is that only a limited amount of alloying elements is considered by those equations. A thermodynamic approach has proven effective for the estimation of the γ stability of multicomponent alloys. Hence, results from the microsegregation analysis for alloy X2CrNi18-9 using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy are presented and their influence on the local γ stability is discussed based on property distribution images.