Constant-load delayed fracture test of atmospherically corroded high strength steels

Constant load tests of circumferentially notched round bar specimens of high strength steels after cyclic corrosion test and outdoor exposure have been performed to demonstrate that delayed fracture occurs when the hydrogen content from the environment, H_E, exceeds the critical hydrogen content for delayed fracture, H_C. During the constant load tests the humidity around the specimen was increased in stepwise manner to increase hydrogen entry. After fracture the specimen was kept at the humidity long enough to homogenize hydrogen in the specimen and to obtain more quantitative hydrogen content by thermal desorption analysis. H_E of the fractured specimens was higher than H_C, and H_E of the specimens not fractured was lower than H_C. This result confirms that the balance between H_C and H_E determines the occurrence of delayed fracture and that hydrogen-content-based evaluation of susceptibility to delayed fracture is reasonable. To certify the increase of H_E with increase in humidity, electrochemical hydrogen permeation test was carried out. The hydrogen permeation current density was increased especially at 98%RH. Enhancement of hydrogen entry with increase in CCT number was also shown by the test.