Low-Cycle Durability of Steels in High-Pressure Hydrogen

We deduce the dependences of low-cycle durability of 11 corrosion-resistant steels from basic structural classes on the pressure of gaseous hydrogen within the range 0.1–35 MPa at 293°K. It is discovered that the highest serviceability in hydrogen is exhibited by homogeneous austenitic steels and steels with intermetallic hardening. The durability of Ni–Al–Ti steels treated for maximum heat resistance in hydrogen is proportional to the content of Ti and Ti//Al ratio and depends on the conditions of treatment. Steels in the state of substitutional solution are not affected by the medium. The materials from the transient class and steels with unstable austenite are characterized by medium sensitivities to hydrogen. High-strength martensite-aging and ferritic steels exhibit catastrophic embrittlement in hydrogen.