Synergistic hydrogen embrittlement in high- strength steels

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Li, Zhi; Lu, Yiran; Gao, Huajian; Kumar, Sharvan
• 署名单位: Nanyang Technological University; Brown University; Tsinghua University
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-13811
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2501850122
• 发表日期: 2025-06-13
• 关键词: enhanced localized plasticity; grain-boundaries; cross-slip; bcc iron; dislocation; fe; decohesion; carbon; mechanisms; BEHAVIOR

摘要

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) remains a critical scientific challenge in building reliable infrastructure for a carbon-free hydrogen economy. Predictive models for hydrogen-induced material failure are still lacking, largely due to an incomplete understanding of hydrogen's effects on deformation behavior, especially in multiphase alloys with complex compositions and microstructures. Here, we demonstrate a synergistic hydrogen embrittlement (SHE) phenomenon in high-strength martensitic steels, where hydrogen interacts with carbon in solution to activate hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity (HELP). Microcantilever bending tests revealed greater hydrogen susceptibility with higher carbon content, evidenced by a significant reduction in work-hardening capacity, promoting slip localization and reduced ductility. First-principles calculations and theoretical modeling revealed that carbon intensifies hydrogen-dislocation interactions and amplifies hydrogen redistribution around screw dislocations, inhibiting cross-slip. This work integrates experimental and modeling approaches to elucidate the synergistic interactions between hydrogen and solute elements, providing critical insights for designing high-strength, hydrogen-tolerant structural materials.