Effect of cathodic potential on stress corrosion cracking behavior of different heat-affected zone microstructures of E690 steel in artificial seawater

In this work,the stress corrosion cracking(SCC)behavior of E690 steel base metal(BM)and different heat-affected zone(HAZ)microstructures,i.e.,coarse grain HAZ(CGHAZ),fine grain HAZ(FGHAZ),and intercritical HAZ(ICHAZ),was investigated at different cathodic potentials in artificial seawater by slow strain rate tensile tests,scanning electron microscopy and electron back-scattered diffraction measurements.The results show that the HAZ microstructures and BM exhibit different SCC susceptibilities:FGHAZ<ICHAZ<BM<CGHAZ,which are controlled by anodic dissolution(AD)at the open circuit potential.With the cathodic potential equaling to-750 mV,the SCC susceptibility of the four microstructures increases because of the synergistic effect of AD and weak hydrogen embrittlement(HE).At-850 mV,AD is inhibited,and the SCC susceptibility of BM decreases,while the SCC susceptibility of the HAZ microstructures increases.At a potential below-850 mV,the SCC susceptibility of the four microstructures gradually increases because of the augment of HE,and the SCC susceptibility of the HAZ microstructures is higher than that of BM.The distinction reveals that the HAZ microstructures have the greater HE susceptibility than BM.

The effect of crack tip environment on crack growth behaviour of a low alloy steel at cathodic potentials in artificial seawater

The environment at crack tip and its effect on the crack growth behaviour of low alloy steel-E690 steel were studied at cathodic potentials in artificial seawater.The results showed that the micro environment at crack tip and crack growth behaviour were related to the electrochemical reactions at crack tip,which were affected by the stress state and applied potentials.The crack tip environment was acidified under cyclic loading,resulting from the crack tip anodic dissolution reaction and corresponding hydrolysis reaction.Because of the hydrogen evolution and the inhibited anodic dissolution inside the crack,the crack tip p H increases as the cathodic potential decreases.The effect of cathodic potentials on the electrochemical reactions caused the variation of the hydrogen content,which influenced the crack growth rate because the crack growth behaviour was controlled by hydrogen embrittlement mechanism.This resulted in a fact that with the negative decrease of potential,the crack growth rate first decreased and then increased,with the minimum rate at-0.75 V.And the crack growth path exhibited transgranular fracture.

Simultaneously Improving Mechanical Properties and Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel via Finish Rolling within Non-recrystallization Temperature

The effect of hot rolling process on microstructure evolution,mechanical properties and stress corrosion cracking(SCC)resistance of high-strength low-alloy(HSLA)steels was investigated by varying the finish rolling temperature(FRT)and total rolling reduction.The results revealed granular bainite with large equiaxed grains was obtained by a total rolling reduction of60%with the FRT of 950℃(within recrystallization temperature T_(r)).The larger grain size and much less grain boundaries should account for the relatively lower strength and SCC resistance.A larger rolling reduction of 80% under the same FRT resulted in the formation of massive martensite-austenite(M/A)constituents and resultant low ductility and SCC resistance.In contrast,a good combination of strength,ductility and SCC resistance was obtained via 80% rolling reduction with the FRT of 860℃(within non-recrystallization temperature T_(nr)),probably because of the fine grain size and M/A constituents,as well as a high density of grain boundary network.