Publications

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The objective of this project is to measure the hydrogen-affected fracture properties of structural welded metals exposed to hydrogen isotopes. The main goal of FY16 was to evaluate low-temperature effects on fracture properties of stainless steel welds pre-charged with hydrogen. Forged stainless steels consisting of 316L, 304L, and 21-6-9 welded with 308L filler metal were pre-charged and tested at 223 K at select displacement rates to evaluate fracture behavior over the lower STS temperature range. Reductions in fracture thresholds were observed for all stainless steel welds when samples were precharged with hydrogen; however, temperature effects were not observed in the 304L and 21-6-9 welds. Only 316L exhibited enhanced degradation at 223 K. In addition to fracture testing, tensile specimens were extracted from the weld region and tested at 296 K and 223 K in the hydrogen pre-charged condition. A slight increase in yield strength was measured in the pre-charged condition at 296K and 223 K for the three different welds. A reduction in total elongation of 3-11% was observed at 296 K, whereas reductions in total elongation from 50-64% were observed at 223 K. Microhardness and ferrite numbers were measured in the weld regions to try to elucidate the factors affecting fracture. Lastly, in collaboration with Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), weld and heat-affected zone bend specimens extracted from forged 304L and 21-6-9 stainless steel were supplied to SRNL and are in the final stages of sample preparation for subsequent tritium exposure, aging, and fracture testing. The collection of testing completed and planned between Sandia and SRNL contributes to the development of a comprehensive database of properties for materials as a function of hydrogen-isotope concentrations.

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This project was intended to enable SNL-CA to produce appropriate specimens of relevant stainless steels for testing and perform baseline testing of weld heat-affected zone and weld fusion zone. One of the key deliverables in this project was to establish a procedure for fracture testing stainless steel weld fusion zone and heat affected zones that were pre-charged with hydrogen. Following the establishment of the procedure, a round robin was planned between SNL-CA and SRNL to ensure testing consistency between laboratories. SNL-CA and SRNL would then develop a comprehensive test plan, which would include tritium exposures of several years at SRNL on samples delivered by SNL-CA. Testing would follow the procedures developed at SNL-CA. SRNL will also purchase tritium charging vessels to perform the tritium exposures. Although comprehensive understanding of isotope-induced fracture in GTS reservoir materials is a several year effort, the FY15 work would enabled us to jump-start the tests and initiate long-term tritium exposures to aid comprehensive future investigations. Development of a procedure and laboratory testing consistency between SNL-CA and SNRL ensures reliability in results as future evaluations are performed on aluminum alloys and potentially additively-manufactured components.

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Austenitic stainless steels such as 304L are frequently used for hydrogen service applications due to their excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. However, welds in austenitic stainless steels often contain microstructures that are more susceptible to the presence of hydrogen. This study examines the tensile strength and ductility of a multi-pass gas tungsten arc weld made on 304L cross-rolled plate using 308L weld filler wire. Sub-sized tensile specimens were used to ensure the entire gage section of each tensile specimen consisted of weld metal. Specimens were extracted in both axial and transverse orientations, and at three different depths within the weld (root, center, and top). Yield strength decreased and ductility increased moving from the root to the top of the weld. A subset of specimens was precharged with hydrogen at 138 MPa (20,000 psi) and 300oC prior to testing, resulting in a uniform hydrogen concentration of 7700 appm. The presence of hydrogen resulted in a slight increase in yield and tensile strength and a roughly 50% decrease in tensile elongation and reduction in area, compared to the hydrogen-free properties.

The wedge geometry is a simple geometry for establishing a relatively constant gradient of strain in a forged part. The geometry is used to establish gradients in microstructure and strength as a function of strain, forging temperature, and quenching time after forging. This geometry has previously been used to benchmark predictions of strength and recrystallization using Sandias materials model for type 304L austenitic stainless steel. In this report, the processing conditions, in particular the times to forge and quench the forged parts, are summarized based on information recorded during forging on June 18, 2013 of the so-called wedge geometry from type 316L and 21Cr-6Ni-9Mn austenitic stainless steels.

Effects of low temperature on hydrogen-assisted cracking in 304L/308L austenitic stainless steel welds were investigated using elastic-plastic fracture mechanics methods. Thermally precharged hydrogen (140. wppm) decreased fracture toughness and altered fracture mechanisms at 293 and 223. K relative to hydrogen-free welds. At 293. K, hydrogen increased planar deformation in austenite, and microcracking of δ-ferrite governed crack paths. At 223. K, low temperature enabled hydrogen to exacerbate localized deformation, and microvoid formation, at austenite deformation band intersections near phase boundaries, dominated damage initiation; microcracking of ferrite did not contribute to crack growth. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

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Applications requiring the containment and transportation of hydrogen gas at pressures greater than 70 MPa are anticipated in the evolving hydrogen economy infrastructure. Since hydrogen is known to alter the mechanical properties of materials, data are needed to guide the selection of materials for structural components. The objective of this study is to characterize the role of yield strength, microstructural orientation, and small concentrations of ferrite on hydrogen-assisted fracture in two austenitic stainless steels: 21Cr-6Ni-9Mn (21-6-9) and 22Cr-13Ni-SMn (22-13-5). The testing methodology involves exposure of tensile specimens to high-pressure hydrogen gas at elevated temperature in order to precharge the specimens with hydrogen, and subsequently testing the specimens in laboratory air to measure strength and ductility. In all cases, the alloys remain ductile despite precharging to hydrogen concentrations of ∼1 at. %, as demonstrated by reduction in area values between 30% and 60% and fracture modes dominated by microvoid processes. Low concentrations of ferrite and moderate increases in yield strength do not exacerbate hydrogen-assisted fracture in 21-6-9 and 22-13-5, respectively. Microstructural orientation has a pronounced effect on ductility in 22-13-5 due to the presence of aligned second-phase particles. Copyright © 2008 by ASME.