HYDROGEN INDUCED CRACKING

Hydrogen induced damage is the degradation of metals caused by exposure to environments (liquid or gas), which cause absorption of hydrogen into the material to cause degradation in mechanical performance.

Examples of hydrogen-induced damage are:

• Formation of internal cracks, blisters or voids in steels.
• Embrittlement (i.e. loss of ductility).
• High temperature hydrogen attack (i.e. surface decarburation and chemical reaction with hydrogen).