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ML00139 - Jun.2018

Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt

Micrography of a longitudinal section of the 5/8" bolt, at the bottom of the thread, presenting a refined structure compared to the center of the bolt and a mark at the thread flank that was probably created during tightening of the bolt.

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of a of the 5/8" , at the bottom of the thread, presenting a refined compared to the center of the and a mark at the thread flank that was probably created during tightening of the .
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Material

Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steel
  • ASTM F 593 group 7 Alloy 630 AH
  • UNS S17400
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Description

The allen were connecting an instrument to a drilling and broke in a brittle way after a short time in service. The presented intergranular micromechanism close to the surface, at the bolt head to body transition; and transgranular propagation. The metallurgical analysis of a non broken bolt operating in the same assembling indicated that there were already intergranular in the same head to body bolt transition. This high strenght 17-4PH is not resistant.

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Chemistry (% in weight)

Bolt analysis

0.034C; 0.34Si; 0.80Mn; 0.028P; 0.022S; 15.5Cr; 4.3Ni; 0.004Mo; 0.31Nb; 3.14Cu.

Associated Images
General aspect of the 5/8" allen bolt that was found fractured in an instrument connected to a subsea BOP. The fracture presented a brittle aspect and occurred at the bolt head to threaded body transition.
1495
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Aspect Before AnalysisDf - Fracture
Micrography of a longitudinal section, in the center, of the broken 5/8" bolt, presenting an aged martensitic structure. There are vertical "lines" that correspond to segregation bands due to the forming direction. These bands are evident only using low magnification microscopy.
168
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Longitudinal Section
Micrography of a longitudinal section, in the center, of the broken 5/8" bolt, presenting an aged martensitic structure.
133
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrographic detail of the aged martensitic structure. The bolt presented variations in the previous austenite grain boundaries from the center of the thickness to the surface. No delta ferrite or retained austenite islands are evidenced.
107
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the 5/8" bolt, at the bottom of the thread, presenting a refined structure compared to the center of the bolt and a mark at the thread flank that was probably created during tightening of the bolt.
95
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Longitudinal Section
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the 5/8" bolt, at the bottom of the thread, presenting a refined structure compared to the center of the bolt. The structure is aged martensite.
91
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrographic detail of the aged martensite structure, refined when compared to the structure in the center of the bolt.
87
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Aspect of the bolt fracture, presenting a flat surface.
80
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fracture Surface AspectDf - Brittle Fracture
The fractographic aspect of the broken bolt shows intergranular micromechanism, typical of a hydrogen embrittlement condition for this aged martensitic material.
88
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fractography by SEMDf - Intergranular Fracture
Fractographic aspect by scanning electron microscopy, close to the surface the broken bolt, presenting intergranular fracture micromechanism.
79
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fractography by SEMDf - Intergranular Fracture
Microscopic detail of the intergranular fracture close to the bolt surface.
71
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fractography by SEMDf - Intergranular Fracture
The fracture, that occurred at the region of transition between the threaded body and the bolt head, presented a flat and brittle aspect.
69
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fracture Surface AspectDf - Brittle Fracture
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, close to the fracture surface (top of the figure), The fracture started at the surface (left side) in a position close to the bolt body to bolt head transition.
58
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - As polished micrographyDf - Longitudinal Section
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, in a position close to the fracture (top) and bolt surface (left ), presenting several secondary intergranular cracks.
57
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - As polished micrographyDf - Intergranular Cracking
Micrographic detail of the secondary intergranular cracks close to the surface of the bolt, where the fracture occurred.
56
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - As polished micrographyDf - Intergranular Cracking
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, close to the fracture surface (top of the figure). The fracture is macroscopically flat and started at the surface (left side) in a position close to the bolt body to bolt head transition. The structure is aged martensite.
55
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Brittle Fracture
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, in a position close to the fracture (top) and bolt surface (left ), presenting several secondary intergranular cracks. The structure is aged martensite and the cracks are located in the previous austenite grain boundaries.
52
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fracture
Micrographic detail of the secondary intergranular cracks (in the previous austenite grain boundaries).
49
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Secondary Cracks
Micrographic detail of the secondary intergranular cracks (in the previous austenite grain boundaries).
48
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Secondary Cracks
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, at the fracture (top of the figure), in the middle of the thickness. The fracture is macroscopically flat.
45
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fracture
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, at the fracture (top of the figure), in the middle of the thickness. The fracture is macroscopically flat and most part of it is intergranular.
45
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fracture
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, at the fracture (top of the figure), in the middle of the thickness. The fracture is macroscopically flat and there are some regions that present a transgranular morphology of the fracture.
45
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt in the final fracture position.
42
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fracture
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the bolt, at the final fracture position. The morphology of the cracks became transgranular.
40
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Fracture
Micrographic detail of the transgranular morphology of the fracture at the final position.
46
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Transgranular Fracture
Fractographic aspect by scanning electron microscopy, in the center of the broken bolt, presenting transgranular fracture micromechanism.
45
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fractography by SEMDf - Cleavage Facets
Fractographic detail of the transgranular fracture micromechanism, brittle.
43
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Fractography by SEMDf - Cleavage Facets
Macrography of the longidutinal section of a non broken allen bolt, at the threaded body to bolt head transition. The granular structure is different through the bolt, with refined structure in the threaded body and coarse at the transition.
44
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched MacroDf - Longitudinal Section
Micrography of a longitudinal section, in the center of a non-broken bolt that operated in the same assembling, presenting an aged martensitic structure, similar to the broken bolt.
41
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Longitudinal Section
Micrography of a longitudinal section, in the center of a non-broken bolt that operated in the same assembling, presenting an aged martensitic structure, similar to the broken bolt.
38
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrographic detail of the aged martensitic structure of the non-broken bolt.
40
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Martensite
Micrography of a longitudinal section of the non-broken 5/8" bolt, at the transition between the threaded body and the head, showing a variation in the grain size (of the previous austenite) and evidences of a deformed structure at this transition.
41
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Longitudinal Section
Micrographic detail of the threaded body to bolt heat transition region, showing a variation in the grain size (of the previous austenite) and evidences of a deformed structure .
43
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Plastic Deformation
Micrographic detail of the intergranular cracks in the transition between the threaded body and the head of the non broken bolt, indicating that this bolt was also embrittled and could fail soon.
48
VIEW
ML00139 / Jun.2018
Hydrogen Fracture of a 17-4 PH Allen Bolt
M - Precipitation Hardened Stainless SteelP - Allen BoltAp - SubseaCd - Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cm - Kalling Etched Micrography by OMDf - Intergranular Cracking