What

What is
is hydrogen
hydrogen
embrittlement?
embrittlement?
Hydrogen
Hydrogen embrittlement
embrittlement is
is a
a
phenomenon
by
which
phenomenon
by
which
hydrogen
hydrogen atoms
atoms diffusing
diffusing into
into
the
the micro-structure
micro-structure of
of a
a metal
metal
cause
cause it
it to
to become
become more
more
brittle,
brittle, resulting
resulting in
in sudden
sudden
and
and unpredictable
unpredictable fracture.
fracture.

Hydrogen
Embrittleme
ntt

Hydrogen
Hydrogen embrittlement
embrittlement can
can be
be
prevented
prevented through:
through:

Control
Control of
of stress
stress level
level (residual
(residual
or
or load)
load) and
and hardness.
hardness.
Avoid
Avoid the
the hydrogen
hydrogen source.
source.
Baking
Baking to
to remove
remove hydrogen.
hydrogen.

During
During hydrogen
hydrogen embrittlement,
embrittlement, hydrogen
hydrogen is
is
introduced
introduced to
to the
the surface
surface of
of a
a metal
metal and
and
hydrogen
hydrogen atoms
atoms diffuse
diffuse through
through the
the metal.
metal.
Solubility
Solubility of
of hydrogen
hydrogen increases
increases at
at higher
higher
temperatures,
temperatures, raising
raising the
the temperature
temperature can
can
increase
increase the
the diffusion
diffusion of
of hydrogen.
hydrogen.
These
These hydrogen
hydrogen atoms
atoms within
within the
the metal
metal
recombine
recombine to
to form
form hydrogen
hydrogen molecules,
molecules,
creating
creating pressure
pressure from
from within
within the
the metal.
metal.
Increasing
Increasing the
the pressure
pressure levels
levels has
has reduced
reduced
ductility,
ductility, toughness,
toughness, and
and tensile
tensile strength,
strength, up
up
to
to the
the point
point where
where it
it cracks
cracks open
open

What is intergranular
corrosion?
Intergranular corrosion is
localized attack along
the grain boundaries, or
immediately adjacent to
grain boundaries.

Causes
Causes intergranular
intergranular corrosion
corrosion ::
Chromium
Chromium carbides
carbides can
can be
be precipitated
precipitated if
if
the
the stainless
stainless steel
steel is
is sensitized
sensitized in
in the
the
temperature
temperature range
range 550850C.
550850C.
For
For example
example during
during heat
heat treatment
treatment or
or
welding.
welding. If
If the
the temperature
temperature lies
lies in
in the
the
critical
critical range
range for
for too
too long,
long, chromium
chromium
carbides
carbides will
will start
start to
to form
form in
in the
the grain
grain
boundaries,
boundaries, then
then become
become susceptible
susceptible to
to
intergranular
intergranular corrosion.
corrosion.

Intergranul
ar Corrosion

How
How to
to prevent
prevent intergranular
intergranular
corrosion?
corrosion?
Use
Use low
low carbon
carbon grade
grade of
of
stainless
stainless steels.
steels.
Use
Use stabilized
stabilized grades
grades alloyed
alloyed
with
with titanium
titanium or
or niobium.
niobium.
Use
Use post-weld
post-weld heat
heat treatment.
treatment.

The figure on the left is the normalized microstructure and the

right is the "sensitized" structure and is susceptible to
intergranular corrosion or intergranular stress corrosion cracking.