Characterization of the Hydrogen Induced Cold Cracking Susceptibility at Simulated Weld Zones in HSLA-100 Steel

摘要

The relative susceptibilities to hydrogen induced cold cracking were evaluated for HY-100, a steel presently in service in naval applications and for HSLA-100. The martensitic microstructure of the HY-100 undergoes wide variations in the heat affected zone during welding which strongly influence the resistance of that alloy to cold cracking. The HSLA-100, a low carbon, precipitation hardened steel with similar strength and toughness to that of the HY-100, possesses a significantly lower degree of hardenability which results in minimal microstructural variations in the heat affected zone under the same simulated welding conditions. The mechanical properties of the base metal and the heat affected zone created during a simulated, single welding pass were characterized by the slow strain rate technique for both steels in an inert environment and in artificial seawater under free corrosion and controlled hydrogen fugacities. The electrochemical behaviors of both steels were also evaluated in artificial seawater.