Effect of microstructure inhomogeneity on hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of X80 welding HAZ under pressurized gaseous hydrogen

Abstract Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of high-grade pipeline welded joint is a threat to hydrogen gas transport. In this research, slow strain rate tension (SSRT) tests in high-pressure hydrogen gas, combined with hydrogen permeation tests and microstructure analysis were conducted on X80 steel, intercritical heated-affected zone (ICHAZ), fine-grained heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) and coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ). The change of HE susceptibility from high to low was CGHAZ, FGHAZ, ICHAZ, and base metal. Microstructure was the important factor influencing hydrogen permeation and susceptibility to HE. Susceptibility to HE was increased in the order of “fine-grained massive ferrite (MF) and acicular ferrite (AF)”, “fine-grained granular bainite (GB) and MF”, “coarse-grained GB and bainite ferrite (BF) embedded with martensite-austenite (M-A) constitute”. The fine-grained MF and AF in base metal with lower hydrogen diffusivity can impede the embrittlement behaviour, while the coarse-grained GB and BF with higher hydrogen diffusivity in CGHAZ increased its susceptibility to HE.