Visualization of hydrogen gas evolution during deformation and fracture in SCM 440 steel with different tempering conditions

In the present study, the hydrogen gas evolution behavior was investigated in SCM 440 steel by using a hydrogen microprint technique (HMT) and a testing machine equipped with a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) in a ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) atmosphere. SCM 440 steels prepared by varying the tempering temperature over the range 200–700 °C were evaluated in order to elucidate the relationship between the hydrogen gas evolution and the tempered microstructures in the deformation. Cathodic hydrogen charging was carried out with a current density of 100 A/m2 for 1 h at room temperature. For comparison, a tensile specimen was prepared without hydrogen charging. The HMT showed that silver particles, which are indicative of the hydrogen emission sites, were present mainly in the matrix as well as on the slip lines after the deformation. It is believed that the silver particles on the slip lines represent the effect of hydrogen transportation due to mobile dislocations. In addition, accumulation of silver particles around non-metallic inclusions such as Al2O3 was also identified. This tendency was observed for different tempering conditions. From the relationship between the stress–strain curves and the hydrogen evolution, determined by using QMS under a UHV atmosphere, it was found that the hydrogen gas evolution behavior varied with the deformation stage.

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► We visualize emission sites of hydrogen atoms on the microstructures during deformation.
► Hydrogen atoms are emitted from slip lines and inclusions when deformed.
► We show the sequence of hydrogen gas evolution during deformation.
► Hydrogen evolution amount will increase if the steels with high strength are tested.