Hydrogen attack of steel. Progress report, April 1, 1978--March 31, 1979

Four normalized carbon steels made in different ways (Si-killed, Al-killed, REM-treated, and electroslag refined) were studied to determine the role of differing fine inclusions on the early stages of hydrogen attack (HA). Hydrogen exposures were made at 4500C (6.5 MPa) and 3750C (7.6 MPa). The first stage of HA is shown to be the development of a closely spaced (1-2 μm) array of small bubbles over the ferrite/pearlite, or occasionally the ferrite/ferrite boundaries. These grew together to form tears, primarily in the rolling plane, leading to more rapid expansion normal to this plane. The planes of separation followed high solute layers in banded steel but only rarely did the fracture surfaces follow inclusions. At 4500C REM-treated steel was attacked the fastest and the Al-killed steel took two to four times as long for attack