Effect of hydrogen charging on microstructure morphology of warm rolled low carbon steel

Warm rolled deformation is one of deformation technique to improve the strength of steels through the refining grain size of ferritic microstructure. In application, low carbon steel which used in structural industry need some protection against corrosion attack, cathodic protection is usually applied combining with coating. Cathodic protection creates reduction reaction which produces hydrogen, and the hydrogen atom may diffuse into the crystal lattice lead to the Hydrogen Induced Cracking. The present study is to observe the morphology of microstructure influenced by hydrogen charging as the source of hydrogen which attacks the steel surface, and observed by Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. After warm rolling of 650°C and 35% deformation, ferrite grain size is smaller than bulk material and the hardness value increasing. After tensile test of hydrogen charged steel found the ductile fracture, it means the smaller the ferrite grains size, the resistance of hydrogen attack is increase.