EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ON CRACK PROPAGATION BEHAVIOR AND MICROSTRUCTURES AROUND CRACKS IN AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS.

Abstract

The effect of hydrogen in SUS 304H type and SUS 310 type austenitic stainless steels was examined by means of tensile tests and microscopic observations. Hydrogen embrittlement of austenitic stainless steels is mainly due to the formation of epsilon martensite in the vicinity of cracks by the absorption of hydrogen and the easy propagation of cracks along the boundary between austenite and epsilon martensite.