D1.6 H-embrittlement tests (SSRT and FPBT) – Abstract

Nowadays, reduction of emissions and the need to increase vehicle safety drive the automotive industry to reduce the vehicles’ weight and increase the performance of the materials used. Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) are good candidates to satisfy these requirements because they have high resistance and good formability. Their performance could be reduced due to their susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. The purpose of this report is to summarize the methods and results obtained for the quantification of the effects produced by hydrogen on high strength steels used in the automotive industry. Three materials with different properties were selected. Preliminary tests for evaluating hydrogen solubility have been carried out. Then tests to evaluate the diffusion of hydrogen in steels and tests to evaluate hydrogen induced delayed fracture behaviour, using the slow strain rate tests and four-point bending tests have been carried out. The critical hydrogen content has been calculated for both methods.