Hydrogen Embrittlement of Advanced High-Strength Steel for Automobile Application: A Review

doi:10.1007/s40195-022-01517-0

Abstract

Abstract:

The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) fracture of advanced high-strength steels used in lightweight automobiles has received increasing public attention. The source, transmission, and movement of hydrogen, characterization parameters, and test methods of HE, as well as the characteristics and path of HE fractures, are introduced. The mechanisms and modes of crack propagation of HE and hydrogen-induced delayed fracture are reviewed. The recent progress surrounding micro and macro typical fracture characteristics and the influencing factors of HE are discussed. Finally, methods for improving HE resistance can be summarized as follows: (1) reducing crystalline grain and inclusion sizes (oxides, sulfides, and titanium nitride), (2) controlling nano-precipitates (niobium carbide, titanium carbide, and composite precipitation), and (3) increasing residual austenite content under the reasonable tension strength of steel.

Key words: Hydrogen embrittlement, High-strength steel, Hydrogen-induced delayed cracking, Hydrogen trapping, Residual austenite

Ming-Tu Ma, Ke-Jian Li, Yu Si, Peng-Jun Cao, Hong-Zhou Lu, Ai-Min Guo, Guo-Dong Wang. Hydrogen Embrittlement of Advanced High-Strength Steel for Automobile Application: A Review[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2023, 36(7): 1144-1158.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Source, transport, direction, and fracture process of hydrogen in steel. In the figure, solid lines indicating strong correlations and dashed lines indicating weak correlations [2]

Table 1 Reaction of hot forming steel and Al-Si-coated hot forming steel

Reaction of uncoated hot forming steel	Reaction of Al-Si-coated hot forming steel
3Fe + 4H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + 8H	Al + H₂O → Al(OH) + H
Fe + 4H₂O → FeO + 8H	2Al + 4H₂O → 2Al(OH) + 6H
(From 570 °C)	2Al + 3H₂O → Al₂O₃ + 6H
2Fe + 3H₂O → Fe₂O₃ + 6H	Si + 2H₂O → SiO₂ + 4H

Fig. 2 Fracture morphologies of hydrogen embrittlement of a micro-void coalescence dimple, b quasi-cleavage fracture, c intergranular fracture, d cleavage fracture [20]

Table 2 Binding energy of hydrogen in different materials [87,88,89]

Hydrogen trap styles	Binding energy(kJ mol⁻¹)	Materials
Single vacancy	46.0-79.0	Iron
C atomic	3.0	Iron
Mn atomic	11.0	Iron
V and C atomic	26.0-27.0	Iron
Dislocation	27.0	Iron
Grain boundary	17.2	Iron
Micro-void	35.2	Iron
Fe₃C	84.0	Medium carbon steel
TiC (coherent)	46.0-59.0	Low carbon steel
TiC(in-coherent)	86.0	Medium carbon steel
MnS	72.3	Low carbon alloy steel
V₄C₃	33.0-35.0	Low carbon alloy steel
NbC	63.0-68.0	Low carbon steel
Residential austenitic	59.9	Dual phase steel

Fig. 3 Four-point bending device

Fig. 4 EBSD result of a 22MnB5 and b 22MnB5NbV (grain refinement)

Fig. 5 Relationship between tensile strength and critical hydrogen content of steel materials

Fig. 6 EBSD analyses of a)22MnB5, b 33MnCrB, c 35MnCrB, d 22MnB5NbV, e 33MnCrBNbV, f 35MnCrBV

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