Effect of undissolved Nb carbides on mechanical properties of hydrogen-precharged tempered martensitic steel

Nb carbides have attracted significant attention to enhance the resistance of tempered martensitic (TM) steel to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). However, previous studies have elucidated the role of Nb carbides in HE resistance without categorizing their types (i.e., undissolved and newly precipitated). This study focuses on the effect of “undissolved” Nb carbides on the tensile and fatigue properties of hydrogen-precharged TM steels. It validated the following two factors for the HE resistance of the TM steels containing undissolved Nb carbides: hydrogen-trapping by the carbides and refinement of prior austenite grain. The former factor rarely affected the HE resistance owing to the interfacial incoherency between the undissolved carbides and ferritic matrix. Such results are distinguished from previous studies focusing on the newly precipitated carbides. In contrast, the latter factor contributed significantly to the HE resistance via the decrease in hydrogen contents per unit surface of prior austenite grain boundaries.