Rate effects on the estimation of fracture toughness by small punch tests in hydrogen embrittlement scenarios

In this paper, different techniques to test notched Small Punch (SPT) samples for the estimation of the fracture properties in aggressive environments are studied, based on the comparison of the micromechanisms at different rates. Pre-embrittled samples subsequently tested in air at conventional rates (0.01 and 0.002 mm/s) are compared to embrittled ones tested in environment at the same rates (0.01 and 0.002 mm/s) and at a very slow rate (5E-5 mm/s); a set of samples tested in environment under static loads that produce very slow rates complete the experimental results. As a conclusion, is recommended to test SPT notched specimens in environment at very slow rates, of around E-6 mm/s, when characterizing in Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) scenarios, in order to allow the interaction material-environment to govern the process.