Abstract
This work investigates the effect of a constant load on hydrogen diffusion through a Q&P steel containing metastable retained austenite by combining electrochemical hydrogen permeation and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Material samples are placed under different external loading conditions, ranging from 50% to 125% of the yield stress. The permeation transients indicate that hydrogen diffusion is delayed under all stressed conditions, even at stresses in the elastic regime, with the delay increasing with the applied load. From thermal desorption spectroscopy performed on the same specimens after the permeation test appears that the samples tested under load show a high temperature peak which is not present in the unloaded sample. Thus indicating that the retained austenite is capable of trapping hydrogen in a loaded condition.