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

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Abstract

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 (Iδ). 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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFB0300604), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51971033 and 51801011), the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2014CB643300), and the National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institution for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    En-dian Fan, Shi-qi Zhang, Dong-han Xie, Qi-yue Zhao, Xiao-gang Li & Yun-hua Huang

  2. Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (MOE), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Shi-qi Zhang

  3. Ningbo Institute of Material Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, China

    Xiao-gang Li

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  1. En-dian Fan
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Correspondence to Yun-hua Huang.

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Fan, Ed., Zhang, Sq., Xie, Dh. et al. Effect of nanosized NbC precipitates on hydrogen-induced cracking of high-strength low-alloy steel. Int J Miner Metall Mater 28, 249–256 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2167-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2167-0

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