The Influences of Heat-Treatment and Cold-Work on the Low Temperature Hydrogen Embrittlement of Austenitic Stainless Steels

Abstract

The influences of heat-treatment and cold-work on the mechanical properties at low temperatures of cathodically-hydrogen-charged austenitic stainless steels were investigated.
Results obtained are as follows.
(1) Austenitic stainless steels heat-treated at 1073 K exhibit hydrogen embrittlemet on a low temperature testing at 77 K.
(2) The susceptibility to low temperature hydrogen embrittlement (LTHE) of seven kinds of austenitic stainless steels, heat treated at 1073 K for 86.4 ks, can be arrenged in the following order;
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(3) In the case of SUS304, the materials which were heat-treated at 923-1223 K, especially at 1073-1173 K, exhibit the LTHE.
(4) Cold-work shows harmful effect on the LTHE.