Hydrogen embrittlement and mechanical response of 304L steel with ZrC additions

Key Points

• Mechanical response improves with zirconium carbide additions, indicating potential benefits for 304L steel.
• Hydrogen embrittlement risks are reduced in alloyed samples, particularly those with optimal ZrC concentration.
• Assessment using tensile testing and microstructural analysis reveals significant effects on steel resilience.
• Highlights the importance of zirconium carbide as an alloying element for improving hydrogen resistance.