Science· 2017Q1
Direct observation of individual hydrogen atoms at trapping sites in a ferritic steel
- 344citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2017year
Short summary
Researchers have directly observed individual hydrogen atoms trapped within the core of V-Mo-Nb carbides in a ferritic steel using atom probe tomography (APT). This provides the first direct evidence for this specific trapping mechanism, crucial for developing hydrogen-embrittlement-resistant materials.
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Key points
- Directly observed individual hydrogen atoms trapped within V-Mo-Nb carbides in ferritic steel.
- Used atom probe tomography (APT) with a cryogenic transfer protocol for observation.
- Quantitative composition profiles confirm hydrogen localization within carbide cores.
- Demonstrates a viable method for studying hydrogen trapping at the atomic scale.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The design of atomic-scale microstructural traps to limit the diffusion of hydrogen is one key strategy in the development of hydrogen-embrittlement-resistant materials. In the case of bearing steels, an effective trapping mechanism may be the incorporation of finely dispersed V-Mo-Nb carbides in a ferrite matrix. First, we charged a ferritic steel with deuterium by means of electrolytic loading to achieve a high hydrogen concentration. We then immobilized it in the microstructure with a cryogenic transfer protocol before atom probe tomography (APT) analysis. Using APT, we show trapping of hydrogen within the core of these carbides with quantitative composition profiles. Furthermore, with this method the experiment can be feasibly replicated in any APT-equipped laboratory by using a simple cold chain.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science, 2017 · DOI ↗
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Field: Metals and Alloys
Metals and AlloysMaterials Science