A study led by University of Oxford and Brookhaven National Laboratory researchers has uncovered how exposure to hydrogen atoms dynamically alters the internal structure of stainless steel. The findings reveal that hydrogen allows internal defects in steel to move in ways not normally possible—which can lead to unexpected failure.
A study led by University of Oxford and Brookhaven National Laboratory researchers has uncovered how exposure to hydrogen atoms dynamically alters the internal structure of stainless steel. The findings reveal that hydrogen allows internal defects in steel to move in ways not normally possible—which can lead to unexpected failure.
This discovery offers vital insights that could help make hydrogen fuel systems safer and more reliable, from aircraft and fusion reactors to pipelines and storage tanks. The study is published in Advanced Materials.
In a world-first experiment, the team used an advanced X-ray imaging technique to track how tiny defects inside stainless steel (called dislocations) respond to hydrogen exposure. This is crucial to understand how hydrogen can cause metals to weaken or fail, and could guide the design of next-generation alloys for a growing hydrogen economy.
Lead researcher Dr. David Yang (Brookhaven National Laboratory) said, «Hydrogen has great potential as a clean energy carrier, but it’s notorious for making materials with which it comes in contact more brittle. For the first time, we have directly observed how hydrogen changes the way defects in stainless steel behave deep inside the metal, under realistic conditions. This knowledge is essential for designing alloys that are more resilient in extreme environments, including future hydrogen-powered aircraft and nuclear fusion plants.»
As countries aim to transition to fossil-free energy systems, hydrogen has been touted as the ideal fuel for hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as shipping, aviation, and heavy freight.
