Phase transitions at the crack tips in solution-annealed titanium-modified (TIM) Type 31 6 stainless steel resulting from cathodic hydrogen charging in the absence of any externally applied stress, was studied using transmission electron microscopy. The location of the ~'-martensite phase was found to occur ahead of the crack tip, in front of the crack, and within the grains of Type 316 TiM after hydrogen charging. Further charging revealed crack propagation through the c~'-phase, which strongly suggests the tendency towards transgranular fracture under conditions of high hydrogen fugacities. These results further suggest that the 7-phase stability was not increased as a result of the titanium addition. The possible role of the ~'-martensite phase in the fracture mechanism is discussed.
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