Effect of nickel equivalent on hydrogen gas embrittlement of austenitic stainless steels based on type 316 at low temperatures

Abstract The effect of nickel equivalent on hydrogen gas embrittlement (HGE) of austenitic stainless steels of Fe–(10–20)Ni–17Cr–2Mo alloys vacuum-melted in a laboratory, based on type 316 stainless steel, was investigated. Tensile tests were conducted in hydrogen and helium at 1 MPa in the temperature range from 80 to 300 K. It was found that HGE of the alloys below a nickel equivalent of 27% increased with decreasing temperature, reached a maximum at 200 K, and then decreased with further decreasing temperature, whereas no HGE occurred above the nickel equivalent of 27%. It was observed that the content of strain-induced α ′ martensite increased with decreasing temperature and nickel equivalent, and hydrogen-induced fracture occurred mainly along α ′ martensite structure. Thus, the susceptibility to HGE depended on nickel equivalent. It was discussed that HGE was controlled by strain-induced α ′ martensite above 200 K, whereas it was controlled by hydrogen transport below 200 K.