0000000000959183
AUTHOR
Sylvain Ringeval
Study of the Hydrogen Embrittlement Sensitivity of an X4CrNiMo 16.5.1 Stainless Steel and the Associated Electron Beam Weld
X4CrNiMo 16.5.1 steel (commercial name APX4) is a low carbon martensitic stainless steel known for its remarkable mechanical characteristics and its good resistance to corrosion. The use of APX4 in the manufacture of high pressure gas vessels requires a thorough understanding of its resistance to Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) as the gas can contain traces of hydrogen, and martensitic steels, and their welds, are generally very sensitive to HE. This paper deals with the first part of this study, involving the characterization of the microstructure and the mechanical properties of each zone of the electron beam weld (melted zone and four different heat affected zones), and the investigation of …
Influence of the microstructure on the corrosion behaviour of low-carbon martensitic stainless steel after tempering treatment
Abstract The microstructure of grade X4CrNiMo16.5.1 stainless steel was studied at different scales. The chemical composition of the native passive film formed on the different phases was then determined at the microscale. The degree of homogeneity of the native passive film is discussed. Subsequently, the susceptibility to pitting corrosion of X4CrNiMo16.5.1 was quantified using the electrochemical microcell technique. The nature of precursor sites and the morphology of pits were investigated by combining scanning electron microscopy with Electron BackScatter Diffraction and potentiostatic pulse tests. The role of the microstructure and the cold-worked layer generated by polishing in pitti…