Modeling Of Hydrogen Distributionin A Duplex Stainless Steel

Abstract

Quite a number of models for hydrogen distribution in steels and welds have been developed in the past 20 years. They reach from simple analytical models to more complex two and three dimensional finite element simulations. So far, these models have been used to simulate hydrogen distribution in homogeneous microstructure. This paper contributes to numerical simulation of hydrogen distribution in heterogeneous microstructure, e.g. in a duplex stainless steel microstructure consisting of two phase fractions. Under appropriate conditions, such as cathodic protection, it is possible that hydrogen is absorbed leading to material embrittlement and possibly initiating hydrogen assisted cracking. In order to avoid hydrogen assisted cracking in duplex stainless steels, it is of great interest to know more about the diffusion behavior of the ferrite and austenite phase. A numerical model has been developed that operates on the mesoscale and enables simulation of hydrogen transport in the various phases of a metallic material.