Papers by Author: R. Balasubramaniam

Abstract: Hydrogen diffusivity was estimated in three different eutectoid rail steels (C-Mn, Cu-Mo and Ni-Cu-Cr) at ambient temperatures using the technique of sub-surface microhardness profiling after cathodic hydrogen charging in 0.5mol/l sulphuric acid at a current density of 0.1A/cm2 for 24 hours. The increase in the concentration of hydrogen at a certain depth below the surface was related to the microhardness increase at this location as compared to the bulk value. The procedure used to obtain the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen from the microhardness profiles is discussed. The hydrogen diffusivity values in all of the rail steels were found to be similar (of the order of 10-13m2/sec). The estimated hydrogen diffusivity in the rail steel was lower than in pure iron (10-8m2/sec). Possible reasons for the difference are discussed.

Abstract: 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel samples containing 0.2 and 0.5 wt % silicon in 40 % cold rolled state were recrystallize-annealed at 1100, 1200 and 1300 K. The grain growth and mechanical properties after recrystallization-annealing for 20 hr to 100 hr were investigated. No significant grain growth was observed even after 100 hr annealing at 1100 and 1200 K. The recrystallization-annealing at 1200 K resulted grains smaller in size than those at 1100 K. Annealing at 1300 K exhibited the enhanced grain growth with decorative microstructures. Initial annealing after cold rolling at 1100 K exhibited low hardness which further increased with annealing temperature. Annealing at 1100 K for 20 hrs exhibited low yield strength and ultimate tensile strength compared to those of as received samples. However, for 100 hrs annealing these properties remained nearly constant for 0.2 Si composition and increased marginally for 0.5 Si composition. Recrystallization-annealing exhibited improved ductility for both the compositions.