Effect of deuterium pre-charging on the mechanical properties, phase and deformation texture of 21-6-9 austenitic stainless steel

The internal deuterium was introduced prior to tension test to 21-6-9 austenitic stainless steel by the thermal charging method. Effects of deuterium pre-charging on mechanical properties of 21-6-9 steel was investigated and the mechanism was discussed. Compared with the unprecharged tensile bars, the ductility decreased significantly and the fracture morphology showed brittle features in deuterium precharged ones. This damage has little relation with strain-induced α′ martensite transformation in this steel. But it is probably due to the deformation manner altered by internal deuterium.