Hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steel under in situ corrosive charging conditions and tensile load

It is known that advanced and ultra-high strength steel grades (AHSS and UHSS) are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement under certain test conditions [1, 2]. In this study, punched hole specimens for constant load testing with in situ hydrogen charging were used to quantify the effect of different corrosive conditions. Flowing or stagnant electrolyte (5% NaCl) conditions were established and time to failure was recorded as a function of applied tensile stress. The pH of the solution was set at 2, 7, and 12. Bare and zinc-galvanized (EG) specimens were used. Hydrogen uptake as a function of immersion time was characterized.