Investigating the variation in the properties of hydrogenated 0.31% carbon steel

Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of heat treatment and of cathode hydrogenation time, on the mechanical properties of 0.31% carbon steel. The results revealed that as the exposure time for cathodically charged hydrogenated steel was increased, statistically significant changes were observed in tensile strength, yield strength and breaking strength with a corresponding loss in ductility. These rates of change varied for steels at different temperature, with the highest rates occurring for specimens at around 400 °C. The least changes were observed in quenched specimens. The measurements of some of the properties were related in a quadratic form to hydrogenation time.