Review of Hydrogen Embrittlement in Metals: Hydrogen Diffusion, Hydrogen Characterization, Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanism and Prevention

Hydrogen dissolved in metals as a result of internal and external hydrogen can affect the mechanical properties of the metals, principally through the interactions between hydrogen and material defects. Multiple phenomena such as hydrogen dissolution, hydrogen diffusion, hydrogen redistribution and hydrogen interactions with vacancies, dislocations, grain boundaries and other phase interfaces are involved in this process. Consequently, several hydrogen embrittlement(HE) mechanisms have been successively proposed to explain the HE phenomena, with the hydrogen-enhanced decohesion mechanism, hydrogenenhanced localized plasticity mechanism and hydrogen-enhanced strain-induced vacancies being some of the most important. Additionally, to reduce the risk of HE for engineering structural materials in service, surface treatments and microstructural optimization of the alloys have been suggested. In this review, we report on the progress of the studies on HE in metals, with a particular focus on steels. It focuses on four aspects:(1) hydrogen diffusion behavior;(2) hydrogen characterization methods;(3) HE mechanisms;and(4) the prevention of HE. The strengths and weaknesses of the current HE mechanisms and HE prevention methods are discussed, and specific research directions for further investigation of fundamental HE mechanisms and methods for preventing HE failure are identified.

Mechanism of Embrittlement and De-Embrittlement for 2.25Cr-1Mo Steel

The constant embrittlement curve for constant segregation concentration on grain boundary of impurity element P and relationship between equilibrium grain boundary segregation concentration and operation time for 2.25Cr-1Mo steel were derived based on the theory of equilibrium grain boundary segregation.The mechanism of step-cooling test and mechanism of de-embrittlement for 2.25Cr-1Mo steel were explained.The segregation rate will increase but equilibrium grain boundary segregation concentration of impurity element P will decrease as temperature increases in the range of temper embrittlement temperature.There is one critical temperature of embrittlement corresponding to each embrittlement degree.When the further heat treating temperature is higher than critical temperature,the heat treating will become a de-embrittlement process;otherwise,it will be an embrittlement process.The critical temperature of embrittlement will shift to the direction of low temperature as further embrittlement.As a result,some stages of step-cooling test would change into a de-embrittlement process.The grain boundary desegregation function of impurity element P was deduced based on the theory of element diffusion,and the theoretical calculation and experimental results show that the further embrittlement or de-embrittlement mechanism can be interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively by combining the theory of equilibrium grain boundary segregation with constant embrittlement curve.

Overview of hydrogen-resistant alloys for high-pressure hydrogen environment:on the hydrogen energy structural materials

With the progressive expansion of hydrogen fuel demand,hydrogen pipelines,hydrogen storage cylinders and hydrogen refuelling stations(HRSs)are the primary components of hydrogen energy systems that face high-pressure hydrogen environments.Hydrogen embrittlement(HE)is a typical phenomenon in metallic materials,particularly in the high-pressure hydrogen environment,that causes loss of ductility and potentially catastrophic failure.HE is associated with materials,the service environment and stress.The primary mechanisms for explaining the HE of materials are hydrogen-enhanced decohesion,hydrogen-induced phase transformation,hydrogen-enhanced local plasticity,adsorption-induced dislocation emission and hydrogen-enhanced strain-induced vacancy.To reduce the risk of HE for metallic structural materials used in hydrogen energy systems,it is crucial to reasonably select hydrogen-resistant materials for high-pressure hydrogen environments.This paper summarizes HE phenomena,mechanisms and current problems for the metallic structural materials of hydrogen energy systems.A research perspective is also proposed,mainly focusing on metal structural materials for hydrogen pipelines,hydrogen storage cylinders and hydrogen compressors in HRSs from an application perspective.