Effect of Testing Temperature on Sulfide Stress Cracking of Low Alloy Steel

In this study, effects of environmental temperature on susceptibility to sulfide stress cracking (SSC)—a type of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) occurring in sour environments—of low alloy steels were investigated from the perspective of hydrogen entry, absorption, and accumulation. SSC susceptibility was evaluated using a double cantilever beam (DCB) test and a four-point bend (4PB) test in sour environments at several testing temperatures. 4PB test specimens included notched and un-notched specimens to investigate influences of stress concentration and local stress. In the case of evaluation methods using specimens with high-stress concentration area, a decrease in testing temperature from room temperature to 4°C significantly increased SSC susceptibility. Hydrogen entry and absorption behaviors were also evaluated at several testing temperatures using a hydrogen permeation test. The hydrogen concentration at the plastic deformed area increased remarkably with decreasing testing temperature. It is considered that the influence of testing temperature is due to hydrogen concentration at the stress concentration area with plastic deformation. In a low temperature condition, the degree of hydrogen accumulation at the crack tip areas of a DCB specimen or crack initiation site of a 4PB specimen could be higher than that in a higher temperature condition. When steels are applied to low temperature conditions with H₂S, a prior material evaluation reproducing both environmental temperature and actual stress condition is needed.