Role of TiC reinforcement in enhancing pitting corrosion resistance and hydrogen embrittlement resistance of additively manufactured martensitic stainless steel
Source abstract
Abstract
This study systematically investigated the effects of TiC addition on the microstructure and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) behavior of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 15-5PH stainless steel. The addition of TiC refined the microstructure, transforming lath martensite into fine equiaxed grains and reducing the average grain size from 3.32 μm to 1.25 μm. Meanwhile, the retained austenite content increased by approximately 9.5%, accompanied by a reduction in kernel average misorientation (KAM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis further revealed the formation of incoherent TiC/matrix interfaces and nanotwins. After TiC addition, the hydrogen content decreased from 3.12 ppm to 1.97 ppm, and the hydrogen embrittlement sensitivity, evaluated by the loss of elongation, decreased by approximately 75%. Fractography and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)-based crack propagation analysis demonstrated that large blocky retained austenite regions effectively deflected and hindered crack propagation. The improved HE resistance was interpreted as being associated with the synergistic effects of reduced local strain concentration, possible hydrogen trapping at incoherent TiC/matrix interfaces, and crack arrest by retained austenite.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals · Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes · Titanium Alloys Microstructure and Properties
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (67)
Show source-provided references
1. High‐throughput investigation of processing–microstructure relation in quenching and partitioning steels via gradient heat treatment and rapid characterization10.1002/mgea.70025 ↗
2. A review on inverse analysis models in steel material design10.1002/mgea.71 ↗
3. Employing deep learning in non‐parametric inverse visualization of elastic–plastic mechanisms in dual‐phase steels10.1002/mgea.29 ↗
4. The role of physical metallurgical relationships in enhancing alloy properties prediction and design: a case study on Q&P steel10.1002/mgea.70 ↗
5. Unveiling the influence of gravity on pitting corrosion through advanced high‐throughput corrosion test method10.1002/mgea.70038 ↗
6. Development of a two‐dimensional bipolar electrochemistry technique for high throughput corrosion screening10.1002/mgea.57 ↗
7. Fast testing of ambient temperature pitting corrosion in type 2205 duplex stainless steel by bipolar electrochemistry experiments10.1016/j.elecom.2020.106779 ↗
8. The effect of ageing upon the microstructure and mechanical properties of type 15-5 PH stainless steel10.1016/S0921-5093(02)00062-X ↗
9. Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of 15-5 PH stainless steel for fastener applications10.4028/www.scientific.net/DF.22.118 ↗
10. Degradation mechanisms in martensitic stainless steels: wear, corrosion and tribocorrosion appraisal10.1016/j.triboint.2018.01.036 ↗
11. High‐throughput preparation for alloy composition design in additive manufacturing: a comprehensive review10.1002/mgea.55 ↗
12. Multimetal research in powder bed fusion: a review10.3390/ma16124287 ↗
13. Synergistic improvement of pitting and wear resistance of laser powder bed fusion 420 stainless steel reinforced by size-controlled spherical cast tungsten carbides10.1016/j.corsci.2024.112342 ↗
14. Corrosion of duplex stainless steel manufactured by laser powder bed fusion: a critical review10.1007/s40195-024-01679-z ↗
15. Enhancing the corrosion resistance of selective laser melted 15-5 PH martensite stainless steel via heat treatment10.1016/j.corsci.2019.108427 ↗
16. Effects of heat treatment on microstructure, mechanical and corrosion properties of 15-5 PH stainless steel parts built by selective laser melting process10.1016/j.jmapro.2019.12.048 ↗
17. Thermodynamics and structure of solidification in the fusion zone of CO2 laser welds of 15-5 PH stainless steel10.1016/0921-5093(90)90061-7 ↗
18. Pore elimination mechanisms during 3D printing of metals10.1038/s41467-019-10973-9 ↗
19. Selective laser melting and heat treatment of precipitation hardening stainless steel with a refined microstructure and excellent mechanical properties10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.10.040 ↗
20. Microstructural characterization of 15-5 PH stainless steel processed by laser powder-bed fusion
21. Additive manufacturing of 15-5PH/WC composites with the synergistic enhancement of strength and ductility10.1016/j.msea.2022.142926 ↗
22. The tribo-corrosion performance of laser powder bed fusion WC/W2C reinforced stainless steel in different pH value solution10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110596 ↗
23. Microstructure and properties of intermetallic composite coatings fabricated by selective laser melting of Ti–SiC powder mixtures10.1016/j.intermet.2013.11.012 ↗
24. Achieving high strength and high ductility in WC-reinforced iron-based composites by laser additive manufacturing
25. Pitting corrosion and wear behavior of laser powder bed fused WC/W2C reinforced 420 stainless steel under laser remelting cycles
26. Szewczyk-Nykiel · 2018 · 11
27. Additive manufacturing of martensitic stainless steel matrix composites with simultaneously enhanced strength-ductility and corrosion resistance10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.109745 ↗
28. Selective laser melting of dispersed TiC particles strengthened 316L stainless steel10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.108291 ↗
29. Characterization of hydrogen embrittlement in automotive advanced high strength steels10.1002/mawe.201100917 ↗
30. Lynch · 2011 · 90
31. Prediction of hydrogen-assisted fracture under coexistence of hydrogen-enhanced plasticity and decohesion10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.06.033 ↗
32. The effect of austenite phase transformation on hydrogen distribution and embrittlement mechanisms of heterogeneous martensite stainless steel manufactured by laser powder bed fusion10.1016/j.corsci.2025.113195 ↗
33. The role of cell structures in hydrogen embrittlement of L-PBF 18Ni (300) maraging steel10.1016/j.corsci.2024.112276 ↗
34. Effects of solution-aging treatment on the hydrogen embrittlement of 17-4 PH stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152917 ↗
35. Effects of titanium content on hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of hot-stamped boron steels10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.12.004 ↗
36. The effect of undissolved and temper-induced (Ti, Mo) C precipitates on hydrogen embrittlement of quenched and tempered Cr-Mo steel10.1016/j.corsci.2019.108421 ↗
37. A quantitative analysis of hydrogen trapping10.1007/BF02661939 ↗
38. Perspectives on hydrogen uptake, diffusion and trapping10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.06.147 ↗
39. Additive manufacturing of high-performance 15–5PH stainless steel matrix composites10.1080/17452759.2021.2019793 ↗
40. The role of reversed austenite in hydrogen embrittlement fracture of S41500 martensitic stainless steel10.1016/j.actamat.2017.08.011 ↗
41. Study of hydrogen release resulting from the transformation of austenite into martensite10.1016/j.msea.2019.03.098 ↗
42. The advantage of grain refinement in the hydrogen embrittlement of Fe–18Mn–0.6 C twinning-induced plasticity steel10.1016/j.corsci.2015.01.012 ↗
43. The adverse effect of grain refinement on hydrogen embrittlement in a high Mn austenitic steel10.1016/j.msea.2024.147367 ↗
44. Optimize the corrosion and mechanical performance of additive‐manufactured nano‐size WC‐Reinforced stainless steel matrix composites by heat treatments10.1002/maco.202414705 ↗
45. A critical review on the effects of process-induced porosity on the mechanical properties of alloys fabricated by laser powder bed fusion10.1007/s10853-022-06990-7 ↗
46. Review of the formation and impact of flaws in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing
47. Novel phenomena of graphene secondary dispersion and phase transformation in selective laser melting of 15-5 PH/graphene composites
48. Heat treatment-induced microstructural transformations and strengthening mechanisms in laser powder bed fusioned 15-5 PH stainless steel10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.11.236 ↗
49. Effect of austenite fraction and stability on strength-hardening-ductility in additively manufactured 17-4 PH stainless steel containing nitrogen10.1016/j.msea.2023.145180 ↗
50. The relationship between alloying elements and retained austenite in martensitic stainless steel welds10.1016/S1359-6462(00)00339-0 ↗
51. Strength-toughness improvement of martensite-austenite dual phase deposited metals after austenite reversed treatment with short holding time10.1016/j.msea.2019.03.125 ↗
52. Atomic-scale insights on hydrogen trapping and exclusion at incoherent interfaces of nanoprecipitates in martensitic steels10.1038/s41467-022-31665-x ↗
53. Quantitative analysis on hydrogen trapping of TiC particles in steel10.1007/s11661-006-0004-3 ↗
54. Hydrogen trapping in some advanced high strength steels10.1016/j.corsci.2016.05.046 ↗
55. Atomic-scale investigation of deep hydrogen trapping in NbC/α-Fe semi-coherent interfaces10.1016/j.actamat.2020.09.031 ↗
56. Unveiling the inconsistent improvement of hydrogen embrittlement resistance by Nb precipitates in medium Mn steels: impact of hydrogen distribution10.1016/j.msea.2024.147629 ↗
57. Effect of TiC content on microstructure and wear performance of 17-4PH stainless steel composites manufactured by indirect metal 3D printing10.3390/ma16196449 ↗
58. Nanotwinned and hierarchical nanotwinned metals: a review of experimental, computational and theoretical efforts10.1038/s41524-018-0062-2 ↗
59. High resolution mapping of strain localization near twin boundaries in a nickel-based superalloy10.1016/j.actamat.2015.07.016 ↗
60. Effect of hydrogen on the fracture behavior of high strength steel during slow strain rate test10.1016/j.corsci.2007.03.038 ↗
61. The hydrogen-induced pitting corrosion mechanism in duplex stainless steel studied by current-sensing atomic force microscopy10.1038/s41529-018-0062-1 ↗
62. Alnajjar · 2019
63. Effect of secondary passivation on corrosion behavior and semiconducting properties of passive film of 2205 duplex stainless steel10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.11.118 ↗
64. Dynamic strain aging and serrated flow behavior of Cr-Ti-B low carbon steel during warm deformation10.1016/j.matchar.2020.110828 ↗
65. Transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) in advanced steels: a review10.1016/j.msea.2020.140023 ↗
66. The influence of tempering temperature, minor alloying elements, and cathodic polarization on the low frequency fatigue resistance of 18% Ni maraging steel10.1016/S0010-938X(76)80032-7 ↗
67. Microstructure effect on hydrogen-induced cracking in TM210 maraging steel10.1016/j.msea.2013.07.097 ↗