Mechanical load induced hydrogen charging of retained austenite in quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steel

This work investigates the effect of a constant load on hydrogen diffusion through a Q&P steel containing metastable retained austenite by combining electrochemical hydrogen permeation and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Material samples are placed under different external loading conditions, ranging from 50% to 125% of the yield stress. The permeation transients indicate that hydrogen diffusion is delayed under all stressed conditions, even at stresses in the elastic regime, with the delay increasing with the applied load. From thermal desorption spectroscopy performed on the same specimens after the permeation test, it appears that the samples tested under load show a high temperature peak, which is not present in the unloaded sample. Further differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirms that the high temperature peak is related to retained austenite and is a result of hydrogen effusion and hydrogen release due to transformation of the retained austenite.