CorrosionScience,Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 239-245.

1996
Copyright 0 1996Elsevier Science Ltd
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0010-938X/96$15.00+0.00

0010-938X(96)00109-3

THE INFLUENCE OF MICROSTRUCTURE ON HYDROGEN

TRANSPORT IN CARBON STEELS

W.C. LUU and J.K. WU

Institute of Materials Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 20224

Abstract-An electrochemical permeation technique was performed on mild steel and S45C medium carbon steel.
Mild steel shows higher permeation rate and diffusivity than medium carbon steel. The highest permeability and
diffusivity for heat treated medium carbon steels are observed in the spheroidized condition and least permeability
and diffusivity are in the martensitic condition. Annealed and normalized structures yield intermediate values of
permeation rate and diffusivity. A monolayer of AgBr emulsion was coated on the determination site of a specimen
to observe hydrogen transport in carbon steel. This hydrogen microprint technique also confirms that the main
diffusion path is lattice and carbide/ferrite interfaces in pearlitic and spheroidized steels, and lath interfaces in
martensitic steel.
Ke~~ds: A. steel, B. hydrogen permeation.

INTRODUCTION
Gas phase and electrochemical permeation measurements show that hydrogen diffusivity in
carbon steels is inversely dependent upon carbide volume fraction and directly dependent
upon iron carbide fineness as established by heat treatment. Hydrogen permeability is also
inversely dependent upon carbide volume fraction but shows only slight inverse dependence
upon iron carbide fineness. ‘-’ Pressouyre’ recently introduced the concept of obstacles and
repellers and related this concept to hydrogen diffusion, solubility and embrittlement. One
reasonable possibility is that carbides act as obstacles or repellers to the diffusion of
hydrogen; another suggests that fine coherent carbides act as reversible traps.’ Since the
former explanation depends upon carbide spacing or mean free path and the latter depends
upon carbide size or surface area, direct observation techniques which detect the hydrogen
distribution in carbon steel would be expected to correlate with permeation data.
The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of hydrogen transport in
two phase iron-carbon steels. The application of a hydrogen microprint technique to study
hydrogen distribution in carbon steels has been developed recently,‘03” and is proving to be
very simple and accurate compared with autoradiography. A hydrogen microprint
technique was used to observe the hydrogen distribution which would be expected to
correlate with permeation data and diffusion path.

DATA ANALYSIS
Permeation
For this study, the flux of hydrogen through the specimen (molHm-2 s-l) was

Manuscript received 23 February 1995; in amended form 11 May 1995.

239
240 W. C. Luu and J. K Wu

measured in terms of current density i,, and conversion to hydrogen permeation flux
according to the following equation:
J, = iF/rrF. (1)

The permeation rate (mol H m- ’ smm

‘) is defined by

J,L = ir L/nF. (2)

where i, ’ is the steady-state permeation current density, II is the number of electrons

transferred, F is Faraday’s constant. L is the specimen thickness, and J, is the steady-state
flux.

For effective diffusion, the rate limiting step Deff (m’ s- ‘) is related to time lag by’*
Deff = L’/6tL. (3)
where lL is lag time and Deb is determined from the transient, tL.

If surface hydrogen is in thermodynamic equilibrium with subsurface hydrogen.” the

apparent solubility (mol H rn-‘) is defined by
C’apy= .Jx L/ D,ff (4)

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
Electrochemical permeation
The instrumentation and procedures were similar to those described elsewhere.‘j The
cathodic side, or hydrogen entry side, of the cell was galvanostatically polarized at a
constant charging current density (10 mA cm-‘) in 0.1 N NaOH with 1.0 gl-’ of
Na2S.9H20 added as a hydrogen recombination poison. The anodic side, or hydrogen
exit side, of the cell was held at a constant potential of + 250 mV (SCE) in 0.1 N NaOH at
room temperature. The potentiostatic current gave a direct measure of the hydrogen flow
rate. Solutions on both sides of the membrane were de-oxygenated. Permeation transients
were recorded on a strip chart recorder. Preliminary experiments indicated good
reproducibility after an initial charging run was made on each sample. Similar
observations reported by Xie and Hirth are thought to result from the initial filling of
deep traps.’
The test materials were commercial mild steel and S45C medium carbon steel; chemical
analyses are shown in Table 1. Preparation of these specimens (3.0-3.6 cm diameter disc,

Table 1. Chemical analysis of tested materlals (wt%)

Steel C Si Mn S P Fe

Mild steel 0.05 0.05 0.7-l 0.008 0.01 I Bal.

s45c 0.45 0.16 0.72 0.009 0.014 Bal.
 Hydrogen transport in carbon steels 241

1 mm thickness) involved austenitizing at 1193 K (920°C) for 20 min in an argon furnace to

ensure uniform grain size and minimum oxidation, followed by furnace, air and water
cooling to obtain annealed, normalized and quenched microstructures, respectively.
Spheroidized structure was heated at 873 K (600°C) for 48 h. The specimens were then
ground and polished through 0.3 pm alumina. The specimen surfaces were rinsed with
distilled water and ultrasonically cleaned in acetone, and dried quickly by warm air blowing.
The exit side of each specimen was electroplated with a nickel layer, 0.2 pm thick. Significant
hydrogen permeation current density was obtained and the background current density was
minimized.

Hydrogen microprint technique

The experimental arrangement for the hydrogen microprint technique is quite similar to
that used for permeation measurements. The cathodic charging side or hydrogen entry cell
was also galvanostatically polarized at a constant charging current in 0.1 N NaOH. The
hydrogen exit side was covered with a liquid nuclear emulsion containing AgBr crystal and
described by Ovejero-Garcia.” Before coating with nuclear emulsion of the specimen the
surface is polished down to 0.3 pm alumina, and etched in 4% Nital for metallographic
preparation. During cathodic charging, hydrogen flux from the metal acts on the emulsion
for the desired time causing the reduction of silver ions. Reactions in the exit side should be:
H”+Ag+ + H++Ag” (5)
or
2H” --f HZ, (6)

l/2H2 + Ag+ + H+ + Ag”. (7)

After a designed cathodic charging time, the specimen was removed and placed into a
fixing solution at room temperature. The specimens were then washed with distilled water,
dried and observed by SEM. Some blank specimens with the same preparation but without
hydrogen charging were also analysed.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Permeation
Permeation rate and diffusivity defined by equations (l)-(3) are presented in Table 2.
Both J,L and Deeare dependent upon carbon content and heat treatment. Mild steel in the

Table 2. Permeation rate and diffusivity for tested materials with a constant charging current
density (IOmAcm-*) at 25°C

Alloy J,L(molHm-Is-‘) &.n (m* s-‘) C,,, (mol H me3)

Annealed mild steel 4.67 x lo-” 1.05 x 10-s 0.44

Annealed S45C 3.49 x IO--‘0 2.96 x lo-” 1.18
Normalized S45C 3.58 x lo-to 2.78 x 10-t’ 1.29
Spheroid&d S45C 3.93 x lo-‘0 3.50 x IO--‘0 1.13
Quenched S45C 1.82 x lo-” 3.70 x lo-” 4.92
242 W. C. Luu and J. K. Wu

annealed condition can be seen to have higher permeation rate and diffusivity than annealed
S45C medium carbon steel at a constant charging current density (10 mA cm-‘). Both J, L
and D,,r are dependent upon heat treatment with spheroidized, the most permeable, and
quenched. the least permeable. Annealed and normalized yield intermediate values of
permeation rate and diffusivity.
The decrease in permeation rate and diffusivity in the steel with the higher carbon
content is explained in terms of Fe3C acting as an obstacle to steady-state and unsteady-
state transport. Diffusivity also decreases as the carbide distribution becomes more finely
divided. Least permeation rate and diffusivity for medium carbon martensitic structure are
due to the amount of imperfection induced and a bet structure supersaturated with carbon
after quenching. which delay the hydrogen diffusion and obstruct the hydrogen flux.

Hydrogen microprinl rechniyur

Silver grains are not presented in the blank specimens of mild steel in Fig. l(a). It was
observed that reduced silver grains by hydrogen are gradually increased on specimen surface
for cathodic charging 60.90. and 120 s with a constant current density (5 mA cm-‘) at 25°C
and shown in Figs l(b)-l(d), respectively. Silver grains are numerous throughout the grains
and grain boundaries of the specimens of mild steel after 120 s cathodic charging. The fine
white silver grains located on grains and grain boundaries were analysed and confirmed by
EDX. Small amounts of silver grains were found on grains and grain boundaries for shorter
cathodic charging times. The diffusivit), of mild steel is 1.05 x 1O-'m' s-’ and is quite a
large value due to the bee structure of iron. The grain boundary diffusivity seems to have the
equivalent value of lattice diffusivity. It is quite different from nickel or other metals which

Fig. I. Mild steel (a) blank specimen. and after cathodic charging with a constant charging current
density (5 mA cm-‘) at 25-C for (b) 60 s, (c) 90 s and (d) 120 s.
 Hydrogen transport in carbon steels 243

Fig. 2. Normalized S45C steel, (a) blank specimen and (b) preferential hydrogen diffusion path
along carbide-ferrite interface after cathodic charging. (c) No preferential diffusion paths by prior
austenite grain boundaries were observed.

have much larger grain boundary diffusivity than lattice diffusivity.‘4,15 Accelerated
diffusion along grain boundaries was not detected in low carbon steel.
Normalized S45C medium steel has a fine pearlite and ferrite structure (Fig. 2(a)), where
a preferential localization of silver grains is observed at the carbide-ferrite interface after
cathodic charging with a constant current density (10 mA cm-*) for 3 min in Figs 2(b)-2(c).
No preferential diffusion paths by prior austenite grain boundaries were found in cathodic
charged specimens in Fig. 2(c). The blank specimens also did not show any silver grains. A
distinct aggregation of silver grains is visible at the interface between carbide and ferrite in
spheroidized S45C steel after the same charging condition (Fig. 3). These results indicate
that the preferential hydrogen diffusion path is along the interface between carbide and
ferrite. Hydrogen diffusivity for the quenched S45C steel is extremely slow due to the
martensitic specimen with high dislocation density and lath interfaces offering more sites for
hydrogen trapping. Few and fine silver grains were observed at lath interfaces after cathodic
charging with constant charging current density (10 mA cm-*) in 0.1 N NaOH even with a
hydrogen promoter at 25°C for 15 min and shown in Fig. 4.

Solubility
The ratio J,L/D,r or C,,, is calculated from equation (4) and appears to be lowest for
the spheroidized microstructure, intermediate for pearlitic microstructure and highest for
the quench microstructure. The increase in C,,, is an indication that trapping is dominant in
these microstructures. The apparent solubility increases with an increase in carbon content
 Fig. : Spheroldtzed S4SC steel (a) blank qwc~men and (b) sliver grains are mostly vistble at the
Intcriace between carhide and ferrite after cathodic charging.

in annealed steel. Trapping at carhide&errite Interfaces increases with an increase in iron

carbide volume fraction and with heat treatments which refine the iron carbide. In quench
martensite. trapping at lath interfaces and dislocation arrays appears to become dominant
as C’,pp approaches a maximum. The calculation of apparent solubility values from
permeation data is consistent with the observation obtained using a new hydrogen
microprint technique, and is also in good agreement with the trap interaction energy from
calculation.“.‘”

CONCLCTSIONS

The influence of microstructure on hydrogen permeation in carbon steels was studied

using the electrochemical permeation technique and hydrogen microprint technique. The
hydrogen microprint technique allows the detection of the hydrogen diffusion path. The
main diffusion paths of hydrogen are grain interior (lattice), the carbide-ferrite interface in
pearlitic and spheroidized steels. and lath interfaces in martensitic steel. Accelerated
diffusion along grain boundaries was not presented in carbon steel. Hydrogen trapping sites
are carbide-ferrite interfaces in pearlitic and spheroidized steels, and lath interfaces and
dislocations in martensitic steel.
 Hydrogen transport in carbon steels 245

Acknon,le~~enzenfs-The authors are grateful for the support of this research by the National Science Council,
Taiwan. under Contract No. NSC 83-040%EOl9-003.

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