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Hydrogen-EmbrittlementHigh Risk for High Strength Steels.SOLUTIONS with Effective, Practical Advice
Hydrogen-Embrittlement is a dangerous condition. It affects especially strong and hard steels, by drastically reducing ductility and favoring the appearance of cracks. Hydrogen-Embrittlement must be avoided, during fabrication processes, by implementing suitable precautions. In this presentation the treatment of the matter is limited to steel. Only two operations are considered. Those involved in fabrication of steel parts or structures should be concerned by possible outcome.
When working with steel at elevated hardness levels, one must avoid the presence of hydrogen during welding. One must also remove hydrogen absorbed during electrocleaning or electroplating operations, because of the dangers of Hydrogen-Embrittlement.
This matter was briefly considered in our page on Alloy Steel Welding and also in several issues of Practical Welding Letter when appropriate. The old assumption held that hydrogen, present in solution in the metal in atomic form, would precipitate at internal locations as molecular hydrogen, building up pressure and producing cracks. Now it is agreed that this concept, while interpreting the general idea of Hydrogen-Embrittlement, cannot explain all the experimental facts. Hydrogen-Embrittlement is addressed here in more complete form but only from a practical standpoint. The reason is that, although having been researched for a very long time, there is no agreement about the mechanisms operating the damage, and the explanations are too complex to be summarized briefly. A few facts should be remarked. Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) is associated with welds in low-alloy steels in presence of: Hydrogen solubility in iron decreases drastically with decreasing temperature. It is much higher in molten than in solid iron. Absorbed hydrogen remains trapped during solidification, and its small atoms are highly mobile, drifting freely and concentrating where possible. In presence of minute amounts of hydrogen, in steels treated to a strength level up to 485 MPa or 75 ksi, longitudinal (underbead) cracks are observed in the heat affected zone (HAZ). At higher strength levels, above 830 MPa or 120 ksi, transverse cracks appear also in the weld metal.
Hydrogen-Embrittlement is detected as a remarkable decrease in ductility by slow bend or by tensile tests of notched and un-notched specimens charged with hydrogen. Interestingly, however, impact tests on material removed between cracks would not reveal the ductility loss, the toughness remaining equivalent to that of specimens without hydrogen. By testing in tension the above specimens under a dead-weight loading, the time to fracture can be recorded, demonstrating the delayed action. The precautions to apply, to avoid the effects of Hydrogen-Embrittlement, require constant attention to clean and dry the steel before welding. Rust, dirt, grease and moisture around the welding area must be removed. Use dry consumables and low hydrogen electrodes. For each high strength low alloy steel, preheat schedules and specified interpass temperature must be observed. Baking treatments should be used where applicable to let the absorbed hydrogen leak away. Limiting the amount of residual stresses will also improve the chances of avoiding cracking, as a minimum stress and longer times are required to initiate cracks. As for processes requiring the immersion of steels that are harder than about 35-40 RC, in electrolytes (for electrocleaning or electroplating), the standard procedures require definite recommendations. Before plating, depending on the steel and its hardness and on the plated material and thickness, mechanical cleaning is preferred, followed sometimes by stress relieving of surface stresses following machining or grinding. Hydrogen absorbed during pickling and cathodic cleaning and before plating must be removed by suitable baking. Parts subjected to fatigue shall be shot peened after baking and before plating of hard chrome. As soon as possible after plating one should start a new baking cycle at definite temperatures for sufficient time to allow for the diffusion of hydrogen out of the steel. A complete theory of Hydrogen-Embrittlement is still missing, as noticed above. It is believed however that a few different mechanisms potentially describe some of the phenomena associated with the manifestation of hydrogen induced cracking. An Article on Preventing Consumables from being Hydrogen Sources was published (4) in Issue 78 of Practical Welding Letter for February 2010. An Article on Filler Metal Advancement: Low Hydrogen FCAW Wire was published (4) in Issue 96 of Practical Welding Letter for August 2011. An Article on Low Hydrogen Filler Metals was published (11) in Issue 115 of Practical Welding Letter for March 2013. An Article on Filler Metals Care for Hydrogen Control was published (4) in Issue 122 of Practical Welding Letter for October 2013. An Article on Low-Hydrogen Covered Electrodes Filler Metal was published (4) in Issue 138 of Practical Welding Letter for February 2015. An Article on Benefits of Low Hydrogen Filler Metal Electrodes was published (4) in Issue 141 of Practical Welding Letter for May 2015. An Article on Filler Metals and shielding gas influence to avoid cracking in welds was published (4) in Issue 147 of Practical Welding Letter for November 2015. An Article on A Study on argon/hydrogen blend was published (11) in Issue 169 of Practical Welding Letter for September 2017.
Readers wishing to delve deeper into the theory can see the publication:
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