Analysis of Hydrogen Embrittlement Behavior in AISI 316 Stainless Steel Using Acoustic Emission Technique

Su-Hwan Choe; Seung-Hyeok Shin; Ki-Deuk Min; Byoungchul Hwang

doi:10.3740/MRSK.2026.36.7.269

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2026 Vol.36, Issue 7 Preview Page

Research Paper

Analysis of Hydrogen Embrittlement Behavior in AISI 316 Stainless Steel Using Acoustic Emission Technique 음향 방출 기법을 이용한 316 스테인리스강의 수소취성 거동 분석

27 July 2026. pp. 269-275

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Abstract

This study investigated the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of 316 austenitic stainless steel subjected to hydrogen charging at different temperatures, using slow strain-rate testing and acoustic emission (AE) techniques. Compared to the non-charged specimen, the specimen H-charged at 25 °C exhibited similar elongation and a ductile fracture mode, while hydrogen charging at 60 °C led to a pronounced reduction in elongation accompanied by quasi-cleavage fracture. This degradation may be associated with enhanced hydrogen transport and redistribution at the elevated charging temperature, which could increase the effective hydrogen activity at microstructural sites, known to be critical to crack initiation and propagation. Feritscope measurements indicated a relative increase in strain-induced martensite formation in the hydrogen-charged specimens. Specifically, the H-charged at 25 °C specimen showed a localized increase in martensite near the fracture surface, and the H-charged at 60 °C specimen exhibited a high martensite fraction over the measured region of the gauge section. AE analysis showed that the cumulative number of AE events decreased after hydrogen charging, while the cumulative absolute energy increased, particularly for the H-charged at 60 °C specimen. These results suggest a relative change in fracture behavior under hydrogen-charged conditions, from ductile fracture involving numerous low-energy AE events to more abrupt fracture behavior characterized by fewer but more energetic AE events. This study suggests that AE analysis can serve as a complementary tool for characterizing deformation and the fracture behavior associated with hydrogen embrittlement in austenitic stainless steels.

Keywords

316 stainless steel

acoustic emission

hydrogen embrittlement

electrochemical hydrogen charging

slow strain-rate test

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Information

Publisher :Materials Research Society of Korea
Publisher(Ko) :한국재료학회
Journal Title :Korean Journal of Materials Research
Journal Title(Ko) :한국재료학회지
Volume : 36
No :7
Pages :269-275
Received Date : 2026-06-17
Revised Date : 2026-07-11
Accepted Date : 2026-07-15
DOI :https://doi.org/10.3740/MRSK.2026.36.7.269

Korean Journal of Materials Research ISSN:1225-0562(Print) 2287-7258(Online) 한국재료학회지

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