Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia

A. S. Tsvetkov, Cand. Eng., Head of Testing Laboratory, e-mail: tsvetkov_as@spbstu.ru

A. G. Nikolaeva, Research Engineer, e-mail: nikolaeva_ag@spbstu.ru

Gazprom VNIIGAZ, St. Petersburg, Russia

S. Yu. Nastich, Dr. Eng., Chief Researcher, Materials Research Laboratory, Tubular Products Development Center, e-mail: S_Nastich@vniigaz.gazprom.ru
A. B. Arabey, Cand. Eng., Chief Researcher, Tubular Products Development Center, e-mail: A_Arabey@vniigaz.gazprom.ru

JSC United Metallurgical Company, Moscow, Russia
D. N. Romanenko, Cand. Eng., Chief Innovation Specialist, Innovative Development Department, Directorate for Technology and Product Development, e-mail: romanenko_dn1@omk.ru
A. V. Muntin, Cand. Eng., Director of the Engineering and Technology Center, e-mail: muntin_av@vsw.ru

This paper examines the feasibility of using electrochemical hydrogen pre-charging to assess hydrogen embrittlement of steel as an alternative laboratory testing method in hydrogencontaining environments under pressure. The study examines the susceptibility of the base metal and weld joint of grade 05XGB steel and the base metal of SAWL 485 steel to hydrogen embrittlement. Both the research methods of low-strain-rate tensile testing (SSRT) in a highpressure hydrogen environment and electrochemical hydrogen pre-charging followed by mechanical testing in air were used. A selective fractographic analysis of the fracture surfaces of the specimens after exposure to hydrogen was performed. The electrochemical charging method demonstrated comparable results with mechanical testing and the potential for its use as a rapid and safe method for assessing the susceptibility of steels to embrittlement.

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