Holistisk grundläggande förståelse av väte-mikrostrukturinteraktioner i duplex rostfritt stål för att bekämpa väteförstöring

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a major problem for metals when hydrogen enters the microstructure and makes the metal brittle, leading to catastrophic failure.

High-strength steel is used to reduce the weight in transport and for storage/usage of hydrogen as a clearn energy, however, the sensitibity to HE limits its applications.

Stainless steel containing multiple alloying elements exhibit high corrosion resistance due to formation of a protective passive film on the surface.

Austenite-ferrite duplex stainless steel (DSS) show excellent mechanical strength and high resistant to corrosion cracking.

HE was identified long ago and has been studied extensively, but it remains an unsolved scientific challenge due to its complexity.

The aim of the proposed project is to gain a holistic fundamental understanding of the hydrogen-microstructure interactions and initial stages of HE of DSS, through combined electrochemical and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering, X-ray tomography, electron microscopy/diffraction analyses, and ab-initio DFT modeling.

We will study the hydrogen-induced effects and damage to clarify passive film degradation, strain localization in the microstructure, interaction between the two phases, transition from local deformation to crack initiation, and thus answer the questions ‘why’ and ‘how’ HE evolves in the DSS.

The outcome will significantly improve our understanding of HE and pave the way for development of highly-resistant DSS to combat HE.