Effects of vanadium precipitates on hydrogen trapping efficiency and hydrogen induced cracking resistance in X80 pipeline steel

In this study, the number and size distribution of vanadium precipitates and their effects on hydrogen trapping efficiency and hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) susceptibility were investigated in X80 pipeline steel. The results showed that as the vanadium content increased, the number of nanoscale vanadium precipitates clearly increased. Furthermore, the amount of hydrogen atoms trapped by vanadium precipitates gradually increased and the hydrogen diffusion coefficient decreased from 4.74 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ in the vanadium-free V0 steel to 8.48 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹ in the V4 steel with 0.16% V, according to hydrogen permeation results. It also reduced the possibility of hydrogen atoms diffusing into the sites of harmful defects such as large-size oxides and elongated MnS inclusions, where cracks were caused more easily. In addition, the V3 steel with 0.12% V, containing the largest number of vanadium carbide particles of less than 60 nm, had the lowest HIC susceptibility.