Experimental investigation on deuterium effects on the tensile performance of two types of China Reduced Activation Ferritic-Martensitic steels

The present work is aimed to study on the effect of deuterium on mechanical properties of two martensitic steel, i.e. CLAM steel and CLF-1 steel. Tensile tests were operated at room temperature before and after deuterium charging. The results showed the ultimate tensile stress and area reduction coefficient of both steels were decreased after deuterium charging. The shrinkage rates of hydrogen induced reduction of area of CLAM steel and CLF-1 steel were 18.65% and 45.98%, respectively, which showed poor resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. This may be related to a lot of lath martensite phase in both steels. And the mechanism of even more sensitive to hydrogen damage for CLF-1 steel is probably due to its finer prior austenite and lath martensite phase, higher contents of carbide particles, as well as more hydrogen content and lower diffusivity.