TY - JOUR
T1 - Deciphering the role of manganese-alloying on hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of martensitic steel
AU - Jamal, Saeed
AU - Wang, Yangwei
AU - Abu Bakar Baig, Mirza Muhammad
AU - Shoaib, Saba
AU - Gui, Lintao
AU - Wang, Jian
AU - Shehzadi, Fatima
AU - Bhatti, Tahir Mehmood
AU - Zhao, Yan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2026/5/1
Y1 - 2026/5/1
N2 - Manganese (Mn) is essential alloying element in martensitic advanced high-strength steel, commonly referred as Mn-alloyed steel exhibiting a synergistic blend of high strength and improved formability rendering it a promising material for automotive application. Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) remains a significant challenge in Mn-alloyed steel, however optimal Mn concentration and microstructural optimization can enhance the material's properties. In the present work, HE behavior of three novel series of press-hardend steel (PHS) with varying Mn content were investigated by hydrogen permeation test, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and slow strain rate tensile test. The results suggest that, adding 2.5 wt% Mn improves microstructure by refining prior austenite grain up to 12.55 µm with increased fraction (34.13 %) of grain boundaries, and complex carbides precipitation. The susceptibility to HE in 2.5 wt% Mn-alloyed steel diminishes by 23.83 %, with enhanced H-trapping density of 4.83 (mol/m3) which is ∼3.6 times higher than 1.3 wt% Mn-alloyed steel. The essential distinction in HE mechanism among microstructures of Mn-alloyed PHS is attributed to hydrogen trapping and diffusion, which govern the dispersal and entrapment of hydrogen with in the steel matrix, providing valuable understanding for future microstructural design to enhance HE resistance.
AB - Manganese (Mn) is essential alloying element in martensitic advanced high-strength steel, commonly referred as Mn-alloyed steel exhibiting a synergistic blend of high strength and improved formability rendering it a promising material for automotive application. Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) remains a significant challenge in Mn-alloyed steel, however optimal Mn concentration and microstructural optimization can enhance the material's properties. In the present work, HE behavior of three novel series of press-hardend steel (PHS) with varying Mn content were investigated by hydrogen permeation test, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and slow strain rate tensile test. The results suggest that, adding 2.5 wt% Mn improves microstructure by refining prior austenite grain up to 12.55 µm with increased fraction (34.13 %) of grain boundaries, and complex carbides precipitation. The susceptibility to HE in 2.5 wt% Mn-alloyed steel diminishes by 23.83 %, with enhanced H-trapping density of 4.83 (mol/m3) which is ∼3.6 times higher than 1.3 wt% Mn-alloyed steel. The essential distinction in HE mechanism among microstructures of Mn-alloyed PHS is attributed to hydrogen trapping and diffusion, which govern the dispersal and entrapment of hydrogen with in the steel matrix, providing valuable understanding for future microstructural design to enhance HE resistance.
KW - Carbide's precipitation
KW - Hydrogen embrittlement
KW - Martensitic steel
KW - Mn-alloying
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030616396
U2 - 10.1016/j.corsci.2026.113728
DO - 10.1016/j.corsci.2026.113728
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105030616396
SN - 0010-938X
VL - 263
JO - Corrosion Science
JF - Corrosion Science
M1 - 113728
ER -