METHOD FOR EVALUATING DELAYED FRACTURE OF METAL MATERIAL
20230075942 · 2023-03-09
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A method for evaluating the delayed fracture characteristics of a metal material. The method including placing a solution-retaining material impregnated with a solution containing a chloride and having a pH of 3.5 or more on a stress loading part of the metal material, and maintaining a state in which the solution-retaining material is held at a deliquescence humidity of the chloride to thereby corrode the stress loading part.
Claims
1. A method for evaluating delayed fracture characteristics of a stress loading part of a metal material, the method comprising: placing a solution-retaining material impregnated with a solution containing a chloride and having a pH of 3.5 or more on the stress loading part; and corroding the stress loading part by maintaining a state in which the solution-retaining material is held at a deliquescence humidity of the chloride.
2. The method for evaluating the delayed fracture characteristics of the metal material according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion is continued while a thickness of a liquid film of the solution is maintained in a range of 10 μm to 2500 μm.
3. The method for evaluating the delayed fracture characteristics of the metal material according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion is performed at a test temperature in a range of −50 to 60° C.
4. The method for evaluating the delayed fracture characteristics of the metal material according to claim 1, wherein, the placing step includes supplying the solution containing the chloride and having the pH of 3.5 or more to the stress loading part before placing the solution-retaining material on the stress loading part.
5. The method for evaluating the delayed fracture characteristics of the metal material according to claim 4, wherein the solution is supplied by immersion for shorter than 15 minutes, atomizing, showering, or dropwise addition.
6. The method for evaluating the delayed fracture characteristics of the metal material according to claim 1, wherein the metal material is a steel sheet having a tensile stress of 1180 MPa or more.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019]
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The disclosed embodiments will now be described. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit its application or use. The present inventors have evaluated the delayed fracture characteristics of high strength steel sheets used for automobiles in various actual environments. Then the inventors have clarified that delayed fracture is likely to occur particularly in an environment in which a snow melting salt is scattered. This is because snow and mud swirled by running automobiles and adhering to the surfaces of the steel sheets maintain the wet state of the surfaces thereof, so that the corrosive conditions are severest.
[0022] When the surface of a metal material and its stress loading part to which, for example, bending stress is applied are placed in the same corrosive environment, the wet state is maintained also at the stress loading part because of adhesion of snow and mud thereto although it has a curved shape, and it has been found that this environment is severe for delayed fracture. Thus, the inventors have found that it is necessary to perform a test for evaluating delayed fracture characteristics of a stress loading part of a metal material in a wet corrosive environment such as a snowfall, rainfall, or splashing environment in addition to the evaluation of the delayed fracture characteristics of the surface of the metal material.
[0023] The inventors have also found that the wet state is maintained not only on the surface of the metal material but also at the stress loading part due to the adhesion of snow and mud. It has been found based on these results that it is necessary to maintain a uniform wet state also in the stress loading part in the evaluation test also.
[0024] Accordingly, the method for evaluating the delayed fracture of a metal material according to the disclosed embodiments is performed by: placing a solution-retaining material impregnated with a solution containing a chloride and having a pH of 3.5 or more on a stress loading part of the metal material; and maintaining a state in which the solution-retaining material is held at a deliquescence humidity of the chloride to thereby corrode the stress loading part. In the following exemplification of the embodiment, the delayed fracture evaluation method performed includes: (1) a supplying step of supplying the solution containing chloride ions and having a pH of 3.5 or more to the stress loading part of the metal material; and (2) a corroding step of corroding the metal material by placing the stress loading part with the solution supplied thereto in an environment with a test temperature of -50 to 60° C. and a humidity equal to or higher than the deliquescence humidity of the chloride while the liquid film of the solution is maintained.
[0025] First, to specifically evaluate the delayed fracture characteristics, it is necessary that the metal material have a stress loading part. Examples of a method for working the metal material include bending, bulging, and stretching. Examples of a method for applying stress to the metal material include a method in which a bolt is used to fix the metal material with the stress applied thereto and a method in which residual stress present after working is used for evaluation. In an example to be shown, bending stress is applied to the stress loading part. However, axial load stress due to a tensile or compression load, torsional stress, etc. may be applied.
[0026] In particular, the metal material used for the evaluation is a steel material such as a steel sheet having a tensile stress TS of 1180 MPa or more, but this is not a limitation. Other metal materials such as Ti and Al may be used. Moreover, the metal materials include coated metal materials.
[0027] (1) Supplying step
[0028] The supplying step is the step of supplying the solution containing a chloride and having a pH of 3.5 or more to the stress loading part of the metal material. If the pH of the solution is lower than 3.5, dissolution of the metal material is facilitated. As the metal material dissolves in the solution, hydrogen ions in the solution are reduced, so that intrusion of hydrogen into the metal material is facilitated. Specifically, if the pH of the solution is lower than 3.5, the environment of the test is severer than the actual environments, and the delayed fracture characteristics in the actual environments cannot be tested accurately. Therefore, the pH of the solution used is 3.5 or more. In the actual corrosive environments, the solution is neutral, and the pH of the solution is preferably 5 to 9.
[0029] The chloride is a general cause for the actual corrosive environments and is therefore contained in the solution. The stress loading part of the metal material may be simply covered with snow that contains no chloride. However, even when the stress loading part of the metal material is covered with snow, the stress loading part may be affected by a snow melting salt. Therefore, the above solution contains the chloride. In this case, the chloride is contained in the solution as chloride ions.
[0030] The chloride ions mean Cl ions in Cl ion-containing salts such as NaCl, MgCl.sub.2, and CaCl.sub.2, and the solution contains at least one of the above chloride components. Water is used as a solvent, and the solution may contain only one chloride such as NaCl, MgCl.sub.2, or CaCl.sub.2. The solution may contain a plurality of chlorides and may contain a component other than the chlorides. Examples of the component other than the chlorides include, but not limited to, sulfides and nitric acid compounds contained in the environment and urea mixed in the snow melting agent and scattered. Considering the actual environments, the solution caused to adhere to the metal material is preferably a solution composed mainly of NaCl, for example, salt water.
[0031] The solution is a liquid state mixture of two or more materials. The solution used may be, for example, an aqueous solution containing a liquid component composed of water as a solvent and any of the above-described chlorides as a solute. In particular, in the solution used for the delayed fracture test, the chloride accounts for 50 to 100% by weight of the solutes and preferably 70% by weight or more. By increasing the weight ratio of the chloride as described above, the deliquescence humidity described later can be easily controlled. No limitation is imposed on the concentrations of the solutes and the solvent in terms of % by weight so long as no operational inconvenience occurs. For example, when the volume of NaCl is equal to or more than one half of the volume of the solution, the amount of NaCl is larger than its saturation amount, so that precipitation occurs. In this case, the solution cannot be supplied uniformly and is therefore not suitable for the disclosed embodiments.
[0032] No particular limitation is imposed on the method for supplying the solution to the stress loading part of the metal material. Specific examples include: an immersion method in which a test specimen is immersed in the solution (for shorter than 15 minutes and preferably shorter than 10 minutes) and removed therefrom to cause the solution to adhere to the surface of the test specimen; a method in which the solution is applied to the metal material by spraying or showering; a method in which the solution is caused to adhere by atomizing; and a method in which a prescribed amount of the solution is added dropwise using a pipet. If the immersion is performed for longer than 15 minutes to cause the solution to adhere, corrosion proceeds in the solution. This differs from the corrosion mode of the disclosed embodiments and is not suitable. The spraying means that droplets of the solution of 50 μm or larger are injected, and the atomizing means that droplets of the solution of smaller than 50 μm are injected.
[0033] In the supplying step, the solution may be supplied by placing the solution-retaining material such as gauze impregnated with the solution to be used in the corroding step on the stress loading part. In this case, the corroding step described below is performed using the solution-retaining material placed in the supplying step. In this manner, the actual corrosive environment in which the state remains unchanged from the supplying step to the corroding step can be reproduced, and the accuracy of the test can be improved.
[0034] (2) Corroding step
[0035] In the corroding step, the solution-retaining material impregnated with the solution is disposed on the stress loading part of the metal material, and the state in which the solution-retaining material is held at the deliquescence humidity of the chloride is maintained to corrode the stress loading part of the metal material.
[0036] In the corroding step, it is necessary to continue holding the solution on the stress loading part of the metal material, and the thickness of the film of the solution is an important factor that has a significant influence on the delayed fracture characteristics. Using different liquid film thicknesses, the delayed fracture characteristics at these liquid film thicknesses were actually evaluated. It was found that the delayed fracture characteristics can be evaluated when at least the liquid film is present on the stress loading part (the liquid film is thicker than 0 μm). The liquid film thickness is obtained from the results of conversion of a value obtained by an ACM sensor (manufactured by Syrinx Inc.) to the liquid film thickness. In particular, it is preferable to maintain the liquid film thickness steadily at from 10 μm to 2500 μm. If the liquid film thickness is less than 10 μm, the liquid film formed is not sufficient, and the degree of corrosion is lower than that in a test in an actual environment. In this case, although a critical load stress coincides with that in the actual environment, the corrosion mode (corrosion type) may differ from that in the actual environment. Similarly, if the liquid film thickness exceeds 2500 μm, the liquid film thickness is excessively large. In this case also, although the critical load stress obtained coincides with that in the actual environment, the corrosion mode (corrosion type) may differ from that in the actual environment. Therefore, the liquid film thickness is preferably from 10 μm 2500 μm. The liquid film thickness in the corroding step is controlled mainly by the amount of the solution supplied in the supplying step described above and the amount of the chloride described later.
[0037] No particular limitation is imposed on the test temperature in the corroding step, but the test is performed in an environment with a test temperature of, for example, -50 to 60° C. This test temperature was defined based on measurements in actual environments. It has been found that, in some environments in which a snow melting salt is used, the temperature can reach −50° C. When an automobile is parked in direct sunlight, the temperature of body parts of the automobile can reach as high as 60° C. Therefore, the temperature range in the disclosed embodiments is set to -50 to 60° C. Considering the range of the test temperature achievable in a general purpose apparatus, the test temperature is preferably -20 to 40° C.
[0038] In the corroding step, the relative humidity of the test environment is one of the significant factors, and it has been found from various experiments that it is necessary to steadily maintain the state in which the stress loading part wet with the solution is not dried in the corroding step. The wet state in which the stress loading part is not dried means that one continuous liquid film (the liquid film thickness is preferably equal to or more than 10 μm) is formed on the stress loading part of the metal material without discontinuities. When discontinuities occur in the liquid film, the amount of the chloride is nonuniform in the test area. This is significantly different from the state in actual environments and is not preferred. To form one continuous liquid film without discontinuities, the wet state must be maintained with only minor fluctuations.
[0039] Therefore, the corroding step is performed in an environment with a humidity equal to or higher than the deliquescence humidity of the chloride. The deliquescence humidity is the humidity at which moisture absorption by the chloride (deliquescence of the chloride) causes the surface of the test specimen to be wet. In this manner, the above-described state in which the solution on the stress loading part is not dried can be maintained. The deliquescence humidity is determined by the type of chloride supplied to the stress loading part, i.e., the type of chloride in the solution. For example, when a salt composed mainly of NaCl is used, the relative humidity is set to 75% RH or higher. When a salt composed mainly of MgCl.sub.2 is used, the relative humidity is set to 33% RH or higher. When a salt composed mainly of KCl is used, the relative humidity is set to 84% RH or higher. The environment is controlled uniformly such that the humidity does not fluctuate. Allowable fluctuations in the liquid film thickness in the corroding step are ±10% of the set value thereof. Fluctuations exceeding these values are not suitable because unevenness of the evaluation results occurs.
[0040] As described above, the amount of the chloride in the solution and the relative humidity of the test environment are set such that the liquid film thickness is maintained without discontinuities. Specifically, the liquid film thickness is determined by the relative humidity of the test environment and the amount of the chloride. It is difficult to reproduce an actual environment either when the amount of the chloride is excessively large or excessively small. The amount of the chloride that allows the above-described liquid film thickness to be maintained is preferably 1000 to 200000 mg/m.sup.2.
[0041] For example, in an environment with a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 95% RH, the liquid film thickness is about 10 μm when the amount of the chloride is 0.1 g/m.sup.2 and is about 100 μm when the amount of the chloride is 1 g/m.sup.2. Based on consideration of the liquid film thickness from the viewpoint of controlling the amount of the chloride supplied and the relative humidity, the liquid film thickness in the corroding step is preferably 40 to 1500 μm. The relative humidity of the test environment is more preferably 90% RH so that the results of experiments are not affected even when the relative humidity of the test environment fluctuates +5% RH.
[0042] Moreover, in the corroding step, the solution-retaining material impregnated with the solution is placed on the stress loading part of the metal material such that the state in which the solution supplied in the supplying step is retained is maintained. In this manner, the wet state of the stress loading part of the metal material can be maintained reliably. The solution-retaining material may be a material such as cotton gauze or mud that has void spaces thereinside so that the solution retained by capillarity can be maintained. In order not to inhibit corrosion, the solution-retaining material is preferably a material that can transmit oxygen. To steadily maintain the wet state of the stress loading part of the metal material, it is preferable not to move the solution-retaining material during the test. The supplying step may be performed only once at the beginning, or the supplying step and the corroding step may be repeated. When the supplying step and the corroding step are repeated, it is preferable to perform the corroding step for 100 hours or longer.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0043] First, whether the delayed fracture test method of the disclosed embodiments can simulate the actual corrosion was examined in Example 1 below. First, steel types A, B, C, and D having compositions shown in Table 1 were used as metal materials serving as test specimens.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 C Si Mn YS TS (mass %) (mass %) (mass %) (MPa) (MPa) Steel type A 0.45 0.20 0.73 1370 1500 Steel type B 0.21 0.33 1.60 1310 1520 Steel type C 0.34 0.20 1.20 1350 1490 Steel type D 0.33 0.08 2.00 1290 1510
[0044]
[0045] This steel sheet for the test was immersed in toluene, subjected to ultrasonic cleaning for 5 minutes, and then bent 180°, and the test specimen 1 in a springback state was restrained by a bolt BN and a nut NN to thereby complete the test specimen 1. The test specimen 1 for the evaluation of delayed fracture has a stress loading part 2 composed of a bent portion with a bend radius R=7 mm, and a stress was supplied to the stress loading part 2 by adjusting the tightening width of the bolt BN and the nut NN. The larger the degree of tightening, the larger the load stress, and the severer the conditions. The stress applied to the stress loading part 2 by tightening is referred to as tightening stress. In the present Example, five levels of tightening stress including 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600 MPa were used. The tightening stress was determined by estimating the tightening width using CAE analysis based on the SS curve of the material used.
[0046] For the test specimens 1 using steel types A and B, an actual environment test was performed in a region in which a snow melting salt was actually scattered, and also a test using the delayed fracture evaluation method for metal materials according to the disclosed embodiments was performed. For the test specimens 1 using steel types C and D, the test using the delayed fracture evaluation method for metal materials described later was performed.
<Actual Environment Test>
[0047] In the actual environment test, each test specimen 1 was placed in a lower portion of a mobile object that traveled every day on roads with a snow melting salt scattered thereon and collected 60 days after the start of the test. The reason that the specimens were placed in the lower portion of the mobile object is that the lower portion is affected by the snow melting salt. The results are shown in Table 2 below. The minimum load stress at which cracking occurred during the test was regarded as a border for the occurrence of cracking and defined as a critical load stress in the actual environment.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Applied Cracking Critical Steel load stress evaluation load stress type (MPa) result (MPa) A 800 ◯ 1400 1000 ◯ 1200 ◯ 1400 X 1600 X B 800 ◯ 1200 1000 ◯ 1200 X 1400 X 1600 X
[0048] In Table 2, when a crack of 1 mm or longer was found in a test specimen 1, the condition of this test specimen was judged as cracked (symbol: x). When a crack of shorter than 1 mm or no cracking was found in a test specimen 1, the condition of this test specimen 1 was judged as not cracked (symbol: 0). Among the load stresses applied to cracked test specimens 1, the smallest load stress was defined as the critical load stress. The critical load stress of the steel A was 1400 MPa, and the critical load stress of the steel B was 1200 MPa.
<Test for Delayed Fracture Characteristics>
[0049] Next, as shown in
[0050] The test conditions of the delayed fracture evaluation test and the results are shown in Table 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Estimated liquid Relative Compati- film humidity Amount of Test Critical bility thickness of the test chloride temper- Solution- load with Test Steel (compu- environment supplied/ Solution ature/ retaining Supplying stress/ actual number type tation)/μm % RH mg/m.sup.2 supplied ° C. pH material method MPa environment 1 A 0 70 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1600 x Comparative NaCl gauze or more Example solution 2 A 5 85 1000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 B Example NaCl gauze solution 3 A 9 95 700 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 B Example NaCl gauze solution 4 A 30 75 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 5 A 40 95 3000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 6 A 40 95 3000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Dropwise 1400 A Example NaCl gauze addition solution 7 A 40 95 3000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Mud Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl solution 8 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous −60 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 B Example NaCl gauze solution 9 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous −50 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 10 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous −20 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 11 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 3.0 Cotton Spraying 1000 x Comparative NaCl gauze Example solution 12 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 3.5 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 13 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 14 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Dropwise 1400 A Example NaCl gauze addition solution 15 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Immersion 1400 A Example NaCl gauze (10 min) solution 16 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Mud Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl solution 17 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 None Spraying 1600 x Comparative NaCl or more Example solution 18 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 10.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 19 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 30 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 20 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 60 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 21 A 125 95 10000 Aqueous 70 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 B Example NaCl gauze solution 22 A 125 95 10000 Sea salt 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example (NaCl + gauze MgCl.sub.2) 23 A 2500 95 200000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl gauze solution 24 A 2500 95 200000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Dropwise 1400 A Example NaCl gauze addition solution 25 A 2500 95 200000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Mud Spraying 1400 A Example NaCl solution 26 A 3000 95 250000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1400 B Example NaCl gauze solution 27 A — 95 — Ion 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1600 x Comparative exchanged gauze or more Example water 28 B 0 70 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1600 x Comparative NaCl gauze or more Example solution 29 B 5 85 1000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 B Example NaCl gauze solution 30 B 9 95 700 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 B Example NaCl gauze solution 31 B 30 75 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 32 B 40 95 3000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 33 B 40 95 3000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Dropwise 1200 A Example NaCl gauze addition solution 34 B 40 95 3000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Mud Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl solution 35 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous −60 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 B Example NaCl gauze solution 36 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous −50 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 37 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous −20 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 38 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 3.0 Cotton Spraying 800 x Comparative NaCl gauze Example solution 39 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 3.5 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 40 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 41 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Dropwise 1200 A Example NaCl gauze addition solution 42 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Immersion 1200 A Example NaCl gauze (10 min) solution 43 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Mud Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl solution 44 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 7.0 None Spraying 1600 x Comparative NaCl or more Example solution 45 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 0 10.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 46 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 30 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 47 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 60 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 48 B 125 95 10000 Aqueous 70 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 B Example NaCl gauze solution 49 B 125 95 10000 Sea salt 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example (NaCl + gauze MgCl.sub.2) 50 B 2500 95 200000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl gauze solution 51 B 2500 95 200000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Dropwise 1200 A Example NaCl gauze addition solution 52 B 2500 95 200000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Mud Spraying 1200 A Example NaCl solution 53 B 3000 95 250000 Aqueous 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1200 B Example NaCl gauze solution 54 B — 95 — Ion 0 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1600 x Comparative exchanged gauze or more Example water A = both the critical load stress and the corrosion mode coincided with those in the actual environment B = only the critical load stress coincided with that in the actual environment x = either did not coincide with those in the actual environment
[0051] In Examples in Table 3, the test was performed under the test conditions described in the disclosed embodiments. In Comparative Examples, at least one of the test conditions was outside the corresponding range in the embodiment, and conditions outside the numerical ranges in the disclosed embodiments are underlined. When no cracking was found in all the test specimens under certain conditions, 1600 MPa or more was placed in the critical load stress column for these conditions. The symbol “x (poor)” was given to the conditions under which the results did not coincide with those in the actual environment test (Comparative Examples). The symbol “B” was given to the conditions under which the results coincided with those in the actual environment test, and the symbol “A” was given to more preferred results. Specifically, as described above, the compatibility with the actual environment was evaluated in terms of the critical load stress and the corrosion mode (corrosion type). When either of the critical load stress or the corrosion mode (corrosion type) coincided with those in the actual environment, “A” was assigned. When the critical load stress coincided but the corrosion mode was different, B″ was assigned because the delayed fracture evaluation test itself was valid. When either the critical load stress or the corrosion mode (corrosion type) did not coincide with those in the actual environment, the test performed was not suitable as the delayed fracture evaluation test, and the symbol “x” was given.
[0052] Nos. 3, 5, 13, 23, and 26 are Examples using steel type A. In these Examples, conditions other than the amount of the chloride were the same, and the amount of the chloride was changed to change the liquid film thickness. In No. 3, since the amount of the chloride supplied was small, the liquid film was not formed sufficiently, and the degree of corrosion was less than that in the actual environment test. Therefore, although the cracking evaluation result (critical load stress) coincided with that in the actual environment, the environment was milder. In No. 26, the amount of the chloride was large, and the liquid film thickness was excessively large. Therefore, although the critical load stress coincided with that in the actual environment, the corrosion mode was different from that in the actual environment. Nos. 30, 32, 40, 50, and 53 are Examples using steel type B, and a similar tendency was found.
[0053] Nos. 1, 2, 4, 13, 28 to 29, 31, and 40 are Examples and Comparative Examples using steel type A or B. In these Examples and Comparative Examples, the relative humidity of the test environment and the amount of chloride were changed to change the liquid film thickness. The thickness of the liquid film formed is determined from the relation between the relative humidity of the test environment and the amount of the chloride. In Nos. 4 and 31, the humidity was 75% RH, and the amount of the chloride was 10000 mg/m.sup.2. Therefore, the state in which the liquid film is present without discontinuities (liquid film thickness: 10 μm or more) can be maintained. In Nos. 1 and 28 that are Comparative Examples, the relative humidity of the test environment was low. This relative humidity of the test environment is lower than the relative humidity at which the chloride contained in the solution absorbs moisture. Therefore, substantially no liquid film was formed, and corrosion did not proceed. This environment differs from the actual environment. In Examples in Nos. 13 and 40, the relative humidity of the test environment was 90% or more. In these Examples, the water film thickness was in the preferred range, and the corrosion state was similar to that in the actual environment, so that preferred results were obtained.
[0054] Nos. 13, 22, 27, 40, 49, and 54 are Examples and Comparative Examples in which different types of solutions were used. In Examples in Nos. 13, 22, 40, and 49, a solution containing a chloride(s) was used, and the results coincided with those in the actual environment. In Comparative Examples Nos. 27 and 54, a solution containing no chloride ions was used. Since no chloride ions were contained, the liquid film formed was not uniform, and the results did not coincided with those in the actual environment.
[0055] Nos. 8 to 10, 13, 19 to 21, 35 to 37, 40, 46 to 48 are Examples in which different test temperatures were used. In Examples in Nos. 9, 10, 13, 19, 20, 36, 37, 40, 46, and 47, the results coincided well with those in the actual environment. However, in Nos. 8 and 35, since the temperature was excessively low, the solution was frozen, and the corrosion did not proceed beyond a certain point. Therefore, although the cracking evaluation result (critical load stress) coincided with that in the actual environment, the corrosion mode did not coincide. When the temperature was excessively high as in Nos. 21 and 48, the degree of corrosion was higher than that in the actual environment. In this case, although the cracking evaluation result (critical load stress) coincided with that in the actual environment, the corrosion mode did not coincide.
[0056] Nos. 11 to 13, 18, 38 to 40, and 45 are Examples and Comparative Examples in which different pHs were used. The results in Examples Nos. 12 to 13, 18, 39 to 40, and 45 coincided well with those in the actual environment. In Comparative Examples in Nos. 11 and 38, the results were inferior to those in the actual environment. Since the pH of the solution was low, dissolution of iron was facilitated, and hydrogen ions in the solution were reduced due to the dissolution of iron, so that intrusion of hydrogen into the steel was facilitated. Therefore, the environments of the comparative examples were severer than the actual environment and the results thereof did not coincide with those in the actual environment.
[0057] Nos. 5, 7, 13, 16 to 17, 23, 25, 32, 34, 40, 43 to 44, 50, and 52 are Examples and Comparative Examples in which different solution-retaining materials were used. Nos. 5, 7, 13, 16, 23, 25, 32, 34, 40, 43, 50, and 52 are Examples in which different solution-retaining materials were used. In each of these Examples, the solution-retaining material disposed was impregnated with the solution, and the liquid film thickness could be maintained, so that the results coincided with those in the actual environment. In Nos. 17 and 44, no material having the ability to retain water was disposed, so that the solution could not be retained. Therefore, the state of progress of corrosion differs from that in the actual environment, and the results were different from those in the actual environment.
[0058] Nos. 5 to 6, 13 to 15, 23 to 24, 32, 33, 40 to 42, 50 to 51 are Examples in which different solution supply methods were used. In Examples in Nos. 5 to 6, 13 to 15, 23 to 24, 32, 33, 40 to 42, 50 to 51, although different supply methods were used, the results coincided with those in the actual environment so long as the conditions for the liquid film thickness were satisfied.
Example 2
[0059] Immersion in hydrochloric acid is a conventional delayed fracture evaluation method. With this method, only comparison between materials under the same conditions is possible. Therefore, whether or not the present evaluation can determine the limit of use of a material itself was verified. Specifically, the delayed fracture characteristics of the steel C and the steel D were evaluated from their critical load stress. The results are shown in Table 4.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Relative Estimated Humidity liquid film of the Amount of Critical thickness test chloride Solution- load Steel (compu- environ- supplied/ Solution retaining Supplying stress/ type tation)/μm ment mg/m.sup.2 supplied pH material method MPa C 125 95% RH 10000 Aqueous 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1600 NaCl gauze solution D 125 95% RH 10000 Aqueous 7.0 Cotton Spraying 1000 NaCl gauze solution
[0060] As shown in Table 4, with the steel C, only a test specimen with a load stress of 1600 MPa, which was the highest load stress, was cracked. As is clear from the present Example, since the critical load stress of the steel C is large, its delayed fracture characteristics are good. However, with the steel D, the critical load stress was 1000 MPa, and cracking occurred at stresses lower than the YS. According to the present test, the critical load stress of the steel D was found to be low, and it could be determined that the delayed fracture characteristics were low. As described above, by using the technique of the disclosed embodiments, the limit of use of a material itself can be evaluated.
[0061] The disclosed embodiments are not intended to be limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, a metal material to be evaluated is generally a steel material such as a steel sheet, but this is not a limitation. Metal materials such as Ti and Al may be used. The delayed fracture characteristic evaluation method of the disclosed embodiments can evaluate the delayed fracture characteristics of metal materials accurately. Therefore, metal materials (particularly steel materials such as steel sheets) selected and evaluated by the evaluation method have good delayed fracture characteristics.