Martensitic stainless steel forgings with 31 - 41-HRC hardness and a yield strength less than 100-ksi (690-MPa) failed in seawater service due to hydrogen embrittlement cracking. The results of a laboratory evaluation indicated that the tensile strength or hardness may be a better indicator of hydrogen embrittlement propensity than the yield strength.
Keywords: hydrogen embrittlement, intergranular cracking, martensitic stainless steel, high strength steel, hardness, untempered martensite