Hydrogen trap states in ultrahigh-strength AERMET 100 steel

Hydrogen (H) trap states and binding energies were determined for AERMET 100 (Fe-13.4Co-11Ni-3Cr-1.2Mo-0.2C), an ultrahigh-strength steel using thermal desorption methods. Three major H desorption peaks were identified in the precipitation-hardened microstructure, associated with three distinct metallurgical trap states, and apparent activation energies for desorption were determined for each. The lattice diffusivity (D L ) associated with interstitial H was measured experimentally and verified through trapping theory to yield H-trap binding energies (E b ). Solid-solution elements in AERMET 100 reduce D L by decreasing the pre-exponential diffusion coefficient, while the activation energy for migration is similar to that of pure iron. M2C precipitates are the major reversible trap states, with E b of 11.4 to 11.6 kJ/mol and confirmed by heat treatment that eliminated these precipitates and the associated H-desorption peak. A strong trap state with E b of 61.3 to 62.2 kJ/mol is likely associated with martensite interfaces, austenite grain boundaries, and mixed dislocation cores. Undissolved metal carbides and highly misoriented grain boundaries trap H with a binding energy of 89.1 to 89.9 kJ/mol. Severe transgranular hydrogen embrittlement in peak-aged AERMET 100 at a low threshold-stress intensity is due to H repartitioning from a high density of homogeneously distributed and reversible M2C traps to the crack tip under the influence of high hydrostatic tensile stress.