Effect of Hydrogen on Fatigue Limit of SCM435 Low-Alloy Steel

The objective of this study is to gain a basic understanding of the effect of hydrogen on the fatigue limit. The material was a low-alloy steel modified to be sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement by heat treatment. A statistical fatigue test was carried out using smooth and deep-notched specimens at a loading frequency of 20 Hz. The environment was laboratory air and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas pressure was 0.1 MPa in gauge pressure. The fatigue limit of the smooth specimen was higher in the hydrogen gas than that in air, although the material showed severe hydrogen embrittlement during the SSRT (Slow Strain Rate Test). The fatigue limit of the deep-notched specimen in the hydrogen gas was the same as that in air. For the smooth specimen, the fatigue limit was determined by whether or not a crack was initiated. For the deep-notched specimen, the fatigue limit was determined by whether or not a crack propagated. The results can be interpreted as that hydrogen has no significant effect on crack initiation in the high-cycle fatigue regime and affected the threshold of the crack propagation.