HISCC UHSS bolts - Improvement of hydrogen induced stress corrosion cracking resistance of ultra-high strength steel screws and fasteners

The development of new high strength and high ductile steels with improved production and manufacturing efficiency is necessary in order to meet future automobile downsizing demands. This project aims to enable the implementation of hydrogen crack-resistant ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) in automobile car body and motor applications by improving testing techniques and optimizing heat treatment and microstructure. Different corrosion and mechanical tests will analyze the effects of hydrogen induced stress corrosion cracking (HISCC) on the mechanical behavior of UHSS. To support these corrosion tests, a prototype of an electrochemical cell around a specimen will be designed and subsequently evaluated using the incremental step load test (ISLT).