Trap-governed hydrogen diffusivity and uptake capacity in ultrahigh-strength AERMET 100 steel

The hydrogen-uptake capacity and mobility in ultrahigh-strength AERMET 100 are characterized for various electrochemical charging and baking conditions. From thermal desorption spectroscopy, the apparent hydrogen diffusivity (D H < 3 × 10−8 cm2/s at 23 °C) is over tenfold less than the values typical of tempered martensitic steels such as AISI 4130. The value of D H decreases with decreasing temperature below 200 °C, with a relatively high apparent activation energy for diffusion of 17.7 to 18.8 ± 0.2 kJ/mol at the 95 pct confidence level. The value of D H also decreases with decreasing diffusible H concentration from less-severe charging or increased baking. Potentiostatic charging in saturated Ca(OH)2 produced total and diffusible H concentrations in AERMET 100 which increase with (H+/H) overpotential and are significantly higher than results for AISI 4130 steel under the same conditions. A significant H concentration was produced by zero overpotential deposition. These characteristics are explained by extensive reversible and irreversible H trapping involving at least three unique trap states in the ultrafine AERMET 100 microstructure. The former likely include coherent M2C carbides, soluble Ni, or precipitated austenite, and the latter include larger incoherent M x C y or martensite lathed-packet interfaces. Baking at 23 °C and 200 °C removes H from the lowest binding-energy sites, but results in reduced D H levels to prolong outgassing time. Additionally, substantial H was retained in stronger trap states. These trapping effects are pertinent to hydrogen embrittlement of AERMET 100 steel.