Hydrogen Embrittlement Phenomena of High-strength Steels Caused by Non-hydrogen Dominated Factors

Through the analysis of the microscopic fracture characteristics of high-strength steels in recent years, we have uncovered previously overlooked phenomena that are crucial to understanding hydrogen embrittlement failure. These include instances of hydrogen embrittlement occurring at hydrogen contents below 0.2 ppm, as well as the significant influence of strength and stress (concentration), along with the widespread presence of grain boundary tearing ridges on grinding and quenching fracture surfaces. This paper identifies five non-hydrogen-dominated factors contributing to hydrogen embrittlement, encompassing chemical segregation, material selection, tempering embrittlement, residual stress, and grinding processing. It addresses whether grain boundary tearing ridges can serve as a criterion for establishing hydrogen as the root cause of hydrogen embrittlement failure in high-strength steels. The objective is to provide valuable reference and guidance for enterprises and technical personnel while emphasizing strict adherence to hydrogen treatment specifications and underscoring the importance of giving due attention to the design, process, and manufacturing aspects related to high-strength steels.