In this study, hydrogen absorption and storage was investigated for various high-alloyed ferritic-austenitic duplex stainless steels. On account of the specific transformation and solidification behaviour, respectively, of duplex stainless steels as compared to single-phase ferritic and austenitic steels, special conditions have to be considered concerning hydrogen absorption which may ultimately lead to microstructure-dependent hydrogen-assisted weld metal cracking. Hydrogen absorption during welding may occur via the shielding gas, moisture from the surroundings or via the welding filler material. As a contribution to the interpretation and prediction of hydrogen-induced cracking in welded duplex stainless steels, the actual hydrogen absorption via the arc as well as the weld metal hydrogen diffusion was investigated in a duplex stainless steel DSS (1.4462) and in a lean-duplex stainless steel LDS (1.4162). Isothermal heat treatment using carrier gas hot extraction enabled quantification of the amounts of hydrogen trapped in the respective microstructures. The total hydrogen concentrations were found to be nearly identical. Trapped hydrogen was however observed to be dependent on the material and on the microstructure condition. The influence of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of the weld metal was characterized with the help of tensile tests. In addition, hydrogen embrittlement was detected in scanning electron microscopic analyses.
Based on its excellent combination of a high strength/weight ratio and good corrosion behavior, Ti6Al4V alloy is ranked among the most important advanced materials for a variety of industrial applications. However, in many of these technological applications, this alloy is exposed to environments which can act as sources of hydrogen, and severe problems may arise based on its susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. Even small hydrogen concentrations might lead to failure. Consequently, a comprehensive knowledge of hydrogen's absorption/desorption behavior and interactions between hydrogen and different microstructural features is necessary to better understand the desorption and trapping mechanisms, the types of the trap sites, and the trapped hydrogen content, in order to determine the safe service conditions of this alloy in the industry. In this paper, different characteristics of hydrogen's absorption/desorption behavior and trapping in a duplex-annealed Ti6Al4V alloy are studied by means of thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Spectra analysis is supported by data from a variety of other experimental techniques, such as LECO hydrogen determinator, XRD and microstructure investigations by means of optical and electron microscopy. Hydrogen evolution is found to be a very complex process, being affected by the way hydrogen was initially introduced to the alloy, the phase transformations that may occur during the thermal analysis and the presence of potential trapping sites.
Different characteristics of hydrogen's absorption/desorption behavior and trapping in ß-21S titanium alloy are studied by means of thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Spectra analysis is supported by data from variety of other experimental techniques, such as LECO hydrogen determinator, XRD and microstructure investigations by means of optic and electronic microscopy. In contrast to many past considerations, the complex process of hydrogen evolution has been found to be significantly affected by the way hydrogen introduction into the alloy. The different trapping sites, as well as phase transformations, have to be considered as the reasons for the different hydrogen evolution behavior.