Observation of Trapping Sites of Hydrogen and Deuterium in High-Strength Steels by Using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Hydrogen and deuterium trapping sites in high-strength steels have been observed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). High-strength steels with 1400 MPa tensile strength are stressed and dipped in D2O and 20% NH4SCN solution at 323 K to occlude hydrogen and deuterium. Depth profiles by SIMS show the presence of deuterium, which indicates hydrogen trapping sites occluded during the delayed fracture test. Secondary ion image analysis by SIMS has made it possible to observe hydrogen and deuterium trapping sites in high-strength steels. Hydrogen tends to accumulate at grain boundaries, in segregation bands, and on inclusions. Line scans by SIMS have shown that the accumulation ratios of hydrogen for the grain boundaries, segregation bands of P and inclusions are 7.8, 5.0 and 11.0 times higher than that in the matrix, respectively. Hydrogen trapping sites at the grain boundaries can be observed by measuring within 24 h after the delayed fracture test.