The Effect of Strain Rate on Hydrogen-Assisted Deformation Behavior and Microstructure in AISI 316L Austenitic Stainless Steel

The influence of strain rate in the interval of (10(−5)–10(−3)) 1/s on room temperature tensile behavior, dislocation arrangement, deformation mechanisms, and fracture of austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L electrochemically charged with hydrogen was investigated. Independently on strain rate, hydrogen charging provides the increase in the yield strength of the specimens due to a solid solution hardening of austenite, but it slightly influences deformation behavior and strain hardening of the steel. Simultaneously, hydrogen charging assists surface embrittlement of the specimens during straining and reduces an elongation to failure, which both are strain rate-dependent parameters. Hydrogen embrittlement index decreases with increase in strain rate, which testifies the importance of hydrogen transport with dislocations during plastic deformation. The stress–relaxation tests directly confirm the hydrogen-enhanced increase in the dislocation dynamics at low strain rates. The interaction of the hydrogen atoms with dislocations and hydrogen-associated plastic flow are discussed.