Antagonistic fatigue crack propagation in Ni-based superalloy 718 under hydrogen-supply: Acceleration and deceleration phenomena

Mechanical properties of structural alloys, including Ni-based superalloy 718 (Alloy718), are degraded when hydrogen (H) is supplied: hydrogen embrittlement (HE). The presence of H notably deteriorates fatigue crack growth (FCG) property, which renders the growth rate much higher and shortens the lifetime of the components operating in the hydrogenating environment. Hence, the mechanisms behind such acceleration phenomenon in FCG should be understood comprehensively toward developing promising alloys resistant to hydrogen occlusion. In particular, Alloy718 has a meager resistance to HE, even regularly displaying superior mechanical and physical performances. Notwithstanding, the present study unveiled that the FCG acceleration by dissolved H in Alloy718 can be negligible. An abnormal deceleration of FCG can instead be pronounced by optimizing the metallurgical state, a hopeful prospect in Ni-based alloys applied to the hydrogenating environment.