Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique
By utilizing hydrogen as an eco-friendly energy source, many metals are exposed to gaseous (pressurized) hydrogen. High-strength steels with an ultimate tensile strength of 800 MPa and above are especially susceptible to hydrogen-induced fracturing, also referred to as hydrogen embrittlement (HE). B...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Metals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/9/1585 |
| _version_ | 1827725352424701952 |
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| author | Jens Jürgensen Michael Pohl |
| author_facet | Jens Jürgensen Michael Pohl |
| author_sort | Jens Jürgensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | By utilizing hydrogen as an eco-friendly energy source, many metals are exposed to gaseous (pressurized) hydrogen. High-strength steels with an ultimate tensile strength of 800 MPa and above are especially susceptible to hydrogen-induced fracturing, also referred to as hydrogen embrittlement (HE). Both the microstructure and phase fractions within the steel, as well as lattice distortion, carbide precipitation, residual stress, etc., significantly affect the susceptibility to HE. Among others, one important cause for this observation is found in the locally varying hydrogen solubility within different microstructural phases such as martensite, bainite, pearlite, and ferrite. Both a thorough understanding of the HE mechanisms and taking countermeasures in the form of alloying design require an accurate analysis of local diffusive hydrogen concentrations within the material. Thermal analysis methods such as Thermal Desorption Mass Spectrometry only display an integral hydrogen concentration throughout the whole sample volume. To analyze the local diffusive hydrogen concentration, novel measuring techniques with a high special resolution must therefore be utilized. The current research presents first-of-its-kind hydrogen analyses by means of the electrochemical microcapillary cell. Using a 10 µm tip opening diameter allows for conducting local diffusive hydrogen measurements within individual grains of multi-phase carbon steel C60E (1.1221). The results confirm that hydrogen is distributed heterogeneously within multi-phase steels. Considering the individual phase fractions and the respective local diffusive hydrogen concentrations, a total diffusive hydrogen concentration can be calculated. The obtained value is in good agreement with reference thermal hydrogen analyses. Our results suggest that electrochemical microcapillary cell measurements offer great potential for further studies, which will provide a better understanding of HE and local hydrogen accumulation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:28:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9331155c200a4ad79e28556b0c41111e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:28:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj.art-9331155c200a4ad79e28556b0c41111e2023-11-19T11:57:00ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012023-09-01139158510.3390/met13091585Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell TechniqueJens Jürgensen0Michael Pohl1Institute for Materials, Materials Testing, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, GermanyInstitute for Materials, Materials Testing, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, GermanyBy utilizing hydrogen as an eco-friendly energy source, many metals are exposed to gaseous (pressurized) hydrogen. High-strength steels with an ultimate tensile strength of 800 MPa and above are especially susceptible to hydrogen-induced fracturing, also referred to as hydrogen embrittlement (HE). Both the microstructure and phase fractions within the steel, as well as lattice distortion, carbide precipitation, residual stress, etc., significantly affect the susceptibility to HE. Among others, one important cause for this observation is found in the locally varying hydrogen solubility within different microstructural phases such as martensite, bainite, pearlite, and ferrite. Both a thorough understanding of the HE mechanisms and taking countermeasures in the form of alloying design require an accurate analysis of local diffusive hydrogen concentrations within the material. Thermal analysis methods such as Thermal Desorption Mass Spectrometry only display an integral hydrogen concentration throughout the whole sample volume. To analyze the local diffusive hydrogen concentration, novel measuring techniques with a high special resolution must therefore be utilized. The current research presents first-of-its-kind hydrogen analyses by means of the electrochemical microcapillary cell. Using a 10 µm tip opening diameter allows for conducting local diffusive hydrogen measurements within individual grains of multi-phase carbon steel C60E (1.1221). The results confirm that hydrogen is distributed heterogeneously within multi-phase steels. Considering the individual phase fractions and the respective local diffusive hydrogen concentrations, a total diffusive hydrogen concentration can be calculated. The obtained value is in good agreement with reference thermal hydrogen analyses. Our results suggest that electrochemical microcapillary cell measurements offer great potential for further studies, which will provide a better understanding of HE and local hydrogen accumulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/9/1585hydrogen embrittlementlocal hydrogen concentrationmicrocapillary cell technique |
| spellingShingle | Jens Jürgensen Michael Pohl Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique Metals hydrogen embrittlement local hydrogen concentration microcapillary cell technique |
| title | Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique |
| title_full | Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique |
| title_fullStr | Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique |
| title_short | Local Hydrogen Measurements in Multi-Phase Steel C60E by Means of Electrochemical Microcapillary Cell Technique |
| title_sort | local hydrogen measurements in multi phase steel c60e by means of electrochemical microcapillary cell technique |
| topic | hydrogen embrittlement local hydrogen concentration microcapillary cell technique |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/9/1585 |
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