The resistance to hydrogen-assisted cracking of welded supermartensitic stainless steel (SMSS) under cathodic protection conditions has been evaluated using the slow strain rate technique. Slow strain rate testing at very low strain rates (nominally 10–8 s–1) generated failure close to the σ0.2 proof stress of the parent material, whereas failure in conventional testing at 10–6 s–1 occurred at much higher plastic strains (6% to 11%). In comparison to the effect of strain rate, the influence of temperature and surface condition was relatively small. These results demonstrate that adopting very low strain rates is critical when evaluating the resistance of SMSS welds to hydrogen embrittlement.

Subject
Test methods, Strain rate, Materials, Piping, Gauges, Plastic strain, Supermartensitic stainless steel, Stress cracking, Stress, Mechanical failure, Surface profile, Plastic deformation, Slow strain rate technique
Keywords:
cathodic protection, hydrogen embrittlement, slow strain rate testing, supermartensitic stainless steel, welds
NACE International
2006
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