Quantitative Evaluation of Solute Hydrogen Effect on Dislocation Density in a Low-carbon Stable Austenitic Stainless Steel

The effects of hydrogen on dislocations are generally understood through Transmission Electron Microscope studies. Novel methods of X-Ray Diffraction analysis provide the means of quantitative measurements of dislocation densities and the evolution of cross-slip in austenitic stainless steels. In a low-carbon austenitic stainless steel (SUS316L) with and without solute hydrogen, and strained by cold-rolling, the maximum dislocation densities were measured, with hydrogen clearly increasing the maximum dislocation density, and the ratio of screw dislocations was shown to be similar regardless of hydrogen content.