Effect of nanosized Nb C precipitates on hydrogen-induced cracking of high-strength low-alloy steel

We investigated the effect of nanosized NbC precipitates on hydrogen-induced cracking(HIC) of high-strength low-alloy steel by conducting slow-strain-rate tensile tests(SSRT) and performing continuous hydrogen charging and fracture analysis. The results reveal that the HIC resistance of Nb-bearing steel is obviously superior to that of Nb-free steel, with the fractured Nb-bearing steel in the SSRT exhibiting a smaller ratio of elongation reduction(I_δ). However, as the hydrogen traps induced by NbC precipitates approach hydrogen saturation, the effect of the precipitates on the HIC resistance attenuate. We speculate that the highly dispersed nanosized NbC precipitates act as irreversible hydrogen traps that hinder the accumulation of hydrogen at potential crack nucleation sites. In addition, much like Nb-free steel, the Nb-bearing steel exhibits both H-solution strengthening and the resistance to HIC.     

Effect of Nb on the transformation kinetics of low carbon (manganese) steel during deformation of undercooled austenite

The hot compression tests using Gleeble 1500 were performed by varying the true strain up to 1.6 (80% reduction) in Nb-free and Nb-microalloyed steels. The effect of Nb addition on the transformation kinetics during deformation of undercooled austenite was investigated. It was found that as compared with Nb-free steel,the transformation incubation period of Nb-bearing steel was pro-longed and the transformation kinetics curves parallelly moved to higher strain because of the solute Nb drag effect. Studies on kinetics also showed that the deformation-enhanced ferrite transformation (DEFT) of the two steels were composed of three stages,which can be expressed by the J-M-A equations individually. However,the parameter n related to the mode of nucleation and growth is somewhat different in the first and second stages of the two steels,and the same in the third stage for both the steels corresponding to the nuclea-tion of retained austenite.     

Corrosion behavior of ferritic stainless steel with 15wt% chromium for the automobile exhaust system

The effect of chloride ion concentration, pH value, and grain size on the pitting corrosion resistance of a new ferritic stainless steel with 15wt% Cr was investigated using the anodic polarization method. The semiconducting properties of passive films with different chloride ion concentrations were performed using capacitance measurement and Mott-Schottky analysis methods. The aging precipitation and intergranular corrosion behavior were evaluated at 400–900℃. It is found that the pitting potential decreases when the grain size increases. With the increase in chloride ion concentration, the doping density and the flat-bland potential increase but the thickness of the space charge layer decreases. The pitting corrosion resistance increases rapidly with the decrease in pH value. Precipitants is identified as Nb(C,N) and NbC, rather than Cr-carbide. The intergranular corrosion is attributed to the synergistic effects of Nb(C,N) and NbC precipitates and Cr segregation adjacent to the precipitates.     

Hydrogen induced cracking of X80 pipeline steel

The hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) behavior of X80 pipeline steel was studied by means of electrochemical charging, hydrogen permeation tests, tension test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicate that the increase of charging time and charging current density or the decrease of the solution pH value leads to an increase of the hydrogen content in X80 steel, which plays a key role in the initiation and propagation of HIC. It is found that the majority of macro-inclusions within the as-used X80 steel do not constitute a direct threat to HIC except aluminum oxides, which directly or indirectly lead to HIC. The hydrogen trap density at room temperature is estimated to be pretty high, and this is an essential reason why the steel is sensitive to HIC. After hydrogen charging, the elongation loss rate and area reduction of X80 steel decline obviously, taking a noticeable sign of hydrogen-induced plasticity damages. It is demonstrated that the losses of these plastic parameters have a linear relation to the fracture size due to hydrogen.     

Precipitation behaviors of X70 acicular ferrite pipeline steel

The morphology, structure, and chemical composition of precipitates in the final microstructure of Nb-V-Ti microalloyed X70 acicular ferrite pipeline steel were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Precipitates observed by TEM can be classified into two groups. The large precipitates are complex compounds that comprise square-shaped TiN precipitate as core with fine Nb-containing precipitate nucleated on pre-existing TiN precipitate as caps on one or more faces at high temperature. In contrast, the fine and spherical Nb carbides and/or carbonitrides precipitate heterogene-ously on dislocations and sub-boundaries at low temperature. From the analysis in terms of thermodynamics, EDS and chemical composition of the steel, NbC precipitation is considered to be the predominant precipitation behavior in the tested steel under the processing conditions of this research.     

Hydrogen-induced cracking behaviors of Incoloy alloy 825

The effect of hydrogen on the fracture behaviors of Incoloy alloy 825 was investigated by means of slow strain rate testing (SSRT). Hydrogen was introduced into the sample by electrochemical charging. The results show that surface microcracks form gradually during aging at room temperature when desorption of hydrogen takes place after hydrogen charging at a current density of 5 mA/cm2 for 24 h. SSRT shows that the increase of ductility loss is significantly obvious as the hydrogen charging current density increases. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal ductile fracture in the pre-charged sample with low current densities, while the fracture includes small quasi-cleavage regions and tends to be brittle fracture as the hydrogen charging current density increases to 5 mA/cm2.     

Effect of shot peening on hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steel

The effect of shot peening (SP) on hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steel was investigated by electrochemical hydrogen charging, slow strain rate tensile tests, and hydrogen permeation tests. Microstructure observation, microhardness, and X-ray diffraction residual stress studies were also conducted on the steel. The results show that the shot peening specimens exhibit a higher resistance to hydrogen embrittlement in comparison with the no shot peening (NSP) specimens under the same hydrogen-charging current density. In addition, SP treatment sharply decreases the apparent hydrogen diffusivity and increases the subsurface hydrogen concentration. These findings are attributed to the changes in microstructure and compressive residual stress in the surface layer by SP. Scanning electron microscope fractographs reveal that the fracture surface of the NSP specimen exhibits the intergranular and quasi-cleavage mixed fracture modes, whereas the SP specimen shows only the quasi-cleavage fractures under the same hydrogen charging conditions, implying that the SP treatment delays the onset of intergranular fracture.     

Effect of hydrogen on the stress corrosion cracking behavior of X80 pipeline steel in Ku'erle soil simulated solution

Hydrogen was a key factor resulting in stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of X80 pipeline steel in Ku'erle soil simulated solution. In this article, the effect of hydrogen on the SCC susceptibility of X80 steel was investigated further by slow strain rate tensile test, the surface fractures were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the fracture mechanism of SCC was discussed. The results indicate that hydrogen increases the SCC susceptibility. The SEM micrographs of hydrogen precharged samples presents a brittle quasi-cleavage feature, and pits facilitate the transgranular crack initiation. In the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement, the decreased polarization resistance and the pitting resistance of samples with hydrogen indicate that hydrogen increases the dissolution rate and deteriorates the pitting corrosion resistance. The potentiodynamic polarization curves present that hydrogen also accelerates the dissolution rate of the crack tip.     

Precipitation behaviors of X80 acicular ferrite pipeline steel

The precipitation behaviors of X80 acicular ferrite pipeline steel were investigated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that dendritic precipitates in the as-cast steel slabs precipitate mainly in grain boundaries, and these dendritic precipitates dissolve and re-precipitate to two kinds of carbonitrides: Ti- and Nb-rich (Ti, Nb)(C, N) carbonitrides during reheating. Four types of precipitates mainly exist in the hot rolled plate: Ti-rich carbonitrides resulted from the dendritic carbonitrides undissolved during the reheating process; Ti-rich carbonitrides re-precipitated along austenite grain boundaries during the reheating process; NbC carbides mainly heterogeneously nucleated on the small pre-existing Nb-rich carbonitrides in the hot rolling process; and NbC carbides precipitated on dislocations during hot rolling.     

Study on temper-rapid cooling process of low carbon steel produced by CSP

On the basis of the effect of carbon precipitation on the microstructure and properties of steel products below A₁ temperature, a new thermal treatment method (temper-rapid cooling process) was studied. By the temper-rapid cooling process, the yield strengths of the high strength low carbon (HSLC) steel ZJ330 and SPA-H produced using the compact strip production (CSP) process increased from 340 to about 410 MPa and from 410 to about 450 MPa, respectively. The results indirectly indicated that there existed nanoscaled iron-carbon precipitates that have obvious precipitation effect on low carbon steel produced by CSP. The prospect of application is discussed.     

Nb微合金化对低合金高强钢耐海水腐蚀性能的影响

利用室内模拟海水加速腐蚀试验及电化学分析,研究了Nb微合金化对Cu-Cr-Ni-P系低合金高强钢耐海水腐蚀性能的影响。结果表明,含Nb钢与不含Nb钢组织均由铁素体和珠光体构成,但Nb微合金化后钢中珠光体组织减少且晶粒细化明显,其在模拟海水介质中的平均腐蚀速率与不含Nb钢相比,降低了约12%,阳极腐蚀电流密度也有所降低。由此可见,在Cu-Cr-Ni-P系低合金高强钢中加入Nb元素有助于提高其耐海水腐蚀性能。     

铁素体/珠光体界面对耐酸管线钢氢致开裂敏感性的影响

利用OM、SEM、EBSD、TEM等手段,分别对热轧态和退火态耐酸管线钢的微观组织、晶界分布、位错及析出相进行表征,测试了不同组织管线钢的氢致开裂(HIC)敏感性,计算分析了有效氢扩散系数、氢陷阱密度及其对不同组织的氢捕获效率,重点探讨了铁素体/珠光体(F/P)界面对耐酸管线钢HIC敏感性的影响。结果表明,随着管线钢珠光体含量的增加,F/Fe_3C界面及F/P界面越多,二者作为不可逆氢陷阱会阻碍氢的扩散,提高氢的捕获效率,有效氢扩散系数降低,管线钢的HIC敏感性提高;F/P界面附近位错的聚集会加速氢原子向高界面能的F/P界面聚集,使氢致裂纹起始于F/P界面处,并沿着F/P界面扩展。     

16Mn(HIC)钢硫化物应力腐蚀开裂实验研究

采用恒应变和慢应变速率拉伸实验的方法,研究了16Mn(HIC)和16Mn钢母材、焊缝在H2S环境中应力腐蚀开裂.结果表明:两种材料在酸性H2S介质中均发生穿晶型硫化物应力腐蚀开裂(SSCC);与16Mn钢相比,16Mn(HIC)钢有更好的抗SSCC性能,钢中的C,Mn,P和S的含量降低有利于提高钢的抗SSCC性能.焊缝及热影响区在焊接过程中,产生的粗大魏氏组织、偏析、缩孔和夹杂等缺陷,降低了焊缝的抗SSCC能力.但是,通过焊后热处理可以适当提高焊缝的抗SSCC能力.     

多级热处理对柔性立管用高强钢组织性能影响

通过对柔性立管用高强钢开展不同的热处理工艺实验并利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜和EBSD技术等表征手段研究了多级热处理对柔性立管用高强钢显微组织、力学性能以及抗氢致开裂性能的影响.结果表明:相对调质热处理而言，多级热处理能够显著细化组织，促使析出相细小弥散地分布于组织中并提高了组织中的晶界密度，从而使柔性立管用高强钢的强度升高.多级热处理大大提高了组织中氢陷阱的数量，减小了析出相的尺寸并改善了氢陷阱的分布状态，进而提高了实验钢的溶氢能力，从而在提高实验钢强度的同时明显改善了其抗氢致开裂性能.     

阴极极化条件下X80钢及其焊缝的氢渗透行为

 钢中吸收的氢能导致其机械性能损失。采用电化学氢渗透技术,研究了阴极极化条件下X80管线钢及其焊缝在鹰潭土壤环境中氢渗透行为,并利用光学显微镜观察了实验后的试样形貌。结果表明,阴极极化条件下,氢在X80钢中的扩散行为既取决于阴极极化电位,又与显微组织结构有关。随着阴极极化程度增加,氢在X80管线钢中母材和焊缝的可扩散氢浓度和氢陷阱数逐渐增大,氢致开裂敏感性增加。X80钢焊缝氢致开裂敏感性高于母材。阴极极化程度低于-1000mV(SCE)时,母材和焊缝的析氢反应动力学不同。当阴极极化程度高于-1100mV(SCE)时,焊缝内氢压超过其塑性极限,氢鼓泡破裂。母材中氢浓度持续增加,氢鼓泡继续长大。母材中针状铁素体和珠光体对氢扩散的阻碍作用,大于焊缝热影响区粗大的贝氏体和熔合线先共析铁素体。     

外加电位对X80管线钢模拟海岸土壤腐蚀的影响

为探究双相X80管线钢在沿海土壤模拟溶液环境中的腐蚀机理，采用极化曲线、慢应变速率拉伸试验(SSRT)和交流阻抗(EIS)法对不同外加电位(-750,-900和-1 050 mV vs.饱和甘汞电极(SCE))下双相X80管线钢的应力腐蚀和电化学腐蚀行为进行研究。结果表明，双相X80管线钢在-1 050 mV电位下对应力腐蚀(SCC)最为敏感。慢应变拉伸呈现为脆性断裂，断口可见铁素体区域圆形或椭圆形的凹坑，这是由于过度阴极反应产生的氢原子扩散进入到钢中在铁素体晶界聚集，氢气析出产生的较高氢压超过材料的强度产生圆形孔洞，在拉伸应力作用下变为椭圆形。在此电位下EIS模拟电阻最小，耐腐蚀性最差。-750 mV的外加电位可起到一定的电化学保护作用，但不足以防止X80管线钢应力腐蚀的发生。-900 mV的外加电位可有效抑制X80管线钢的阳极溶解，SSRT的强度和延展性均高于0 mV电位试样，表现出韧性断裂特征，EIS模拟电阻最高，因此双相X80管线钢在模拟海岸土壤环境下最佳的阴极保护电位约为-900 mV vs. SCE。双相X80管线钢在沿海土壤模拟环境中的应力腐蚀行为的研究可对其在实际使用过...     

X80管线钢中氮化物和碳化物析出热力学分析

基于规则熔体理论和平衡反应基础,对连铸工序X80管线钢中碳化物、氮化物析出进行热力学分析,研究Ti、Nb及Al的碳化物、氮化物析出规律。结果表明,固液两相区,TiC0.005N0.995和TiN分别在1785K和1784K时开始析出;奥氏体相区,碳化物、氮化物析出先后顺序为NbC0.64N0.36、NbC、NbN、AlN、TiC,相应析出温度为1457、1404、1354、1267、1226K;γ→α相变过程中,TiC发生相间析出,Nb主要以NbC形式析出,AlN析出量较少。