The Effect of Composition and Tensile Strength on the Susceptibility of Alloy Steels to Cadmium Plating (Hydrogen) Embrittlement

摘要

Sustained load, fracture toughness and bend tests were made to determine the susceptibility to cadmium plating (hydrogen) embrittlement of a range of 3% chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steels of different carbon contents, impurity contents, and tensile strengths. Comparison was made with 2% copper-silicon-molybdenum steels and 18% nicke maraging steels. Sustained load life and critical crack size fell sharply with increase of tensile strength from 110 to 120 tonf/sq in. Variation in carbon content at constant tensile strength had little effect. Most impurity elements were somewhat detrimental but 0.016% sulphur appeared beneficial. Extension of baking times at 200C after plating prolonged sustained load life but did not always eliminate failure. The maraging steels were much more resistant to plating embrittlement than the two low alloy steels. (Author)