Effect of laser surface hardening on the hydrogen embrittlement of AISI 420: Martensitic stainless steel

The susceptibility of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of AISI 420 which was surface transformed hardened by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, was investigated in 5% sodium chloride + 0.5% acetic acid solution by the U-Bend method, in the range of pH value from 3.5 to 6, in the absence and presence of 1 ppm thiosulphate ion, at 25 and 60 °C. The results showed that the laser-treated areas are more susceptible to SCC than the base metal. Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is the main cause of crack propagating, mostly effective on the grain boundaries and the interface between carbide particles and second phases; tempered martensite or ferrite.