Distribution of hydrogen atoms at metallurgical microphases of X52 pipeline steel studied by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and finite element modelling

Abstract The work combined scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements and finite element modelling to study the diffusion and distribution of hydrogen (H) atoms at metallurgical microphases contained in X52 pipeline steel. Results show that the pearlite contained in the steel is more stable than the ferrite during electropolishing, as indicated by the measured topographic profiles and Volta potentials. The hydrogen (H)-charging enhances the electrochemical activity of both pearlite and ferrite, as shown by increased Volta potential and thus the decreased work function. As the H-charging time increases, the Volta potentials of both phases further increase, implying that their activities increase with the H-charging time. The pearlite has a greater Volta potential and thus a lower work function than the ferrite. This is associated with more H atoms accumulating at the pearlite than at the ferrite. The H atom diffusion and accumulation are affected by H diffusivity at phase boundaries, H-trap binding energy and the number of traps in the steel.