Effect of High Pressure Gaseous Hydrogen on the Tensile Properties of Four Types of Stainless Steels: Investigation of Materials Properties in High Pressure Gaseous Hydrogen—1

Author(s):  
Hideki Nakagawa

Practical application of fuel cell vehicle has started in the world, and high-pressure hydrogen tanks are currently considered to be the mainstream hydrogen storage system for commercially implemented fuel cell vehicle. Application of metallic materials to the components of high-pressure hydrogen storage system: hydrogen tanks, valves, measuring instructions and so on, have been discussed. In this work, tensile properties of four types of stainless steels were evaluated in 45MPa (6527psig) and 75MPa (10878psig) high-pressure gaseous hydrogen at a slow strain rate of 3×10−6 s−1 at ambient temperature. Type 316L (UNS S31603) stainless steel hardly showed ductility loss in gaseous hydrogen, since it had stable austenitic structure. On the other hand, Type 304 (UNS S30400) metastable austenitic stainless steel showed remarkable ductility loss in gaseous hydrogen, which was caused by the hydrogen embrittlement of strain induced martensitic phase. Likewise, Type 205 (UNS S20500) nitrogen-strengthened austenitic stainless steel showed remarkable ductility loss in gaseous hydrogen, though it had stable austenitic structure in the same manner as Type 316L. The ductility loss of Type 205 was due to the hydrogen embrittlement of austenitic phase resulting from the formation of planar dislocation array. Furthermore, Type 329J4L (UNS S31260) duplex stainless steel showed extreme ductility loss in gaseous hydrogen, which was caused by the hydrogen embrittlement of ferritic phase.

Author(s):  
Shinichi Ohmiya ◽  
Hideki Fujii

Safety of on-board high-pressure hydrogen fuel tanks and piping systems in hydrogen refueling station is one of the most important subjects for upcoming hydrogen society featured by fuel cell vehicles. Type 316L austenitic stainless steel is known as a material in which the effect of hydrogen on mechanical properties is very small, so JIS SUS316L is recognized as the standard material for 35MPa type on-board fuel tank liner in the Japanese standard JARI-S001. However, solution treated 316L does not always have sufficient 0.2% proof stress, and materials having higher proof stress are strongly needed. One of the solutions is work-hardening of the material, which is conventionally used for piping systems for high pressure gas facilities. In this study, the effect of hydrogen on mechanical properties of 40% cold worked 316L in high-pressure gaseous hydrogen at 45MPa was investigated. Results are as follows: Any significant effect of hydrogen was not recognized in tensile tests using round bar type specimens at room temperature and 85°C. In axial fatigue life tests using sand glass type specimens (stress ratio R = −1) at room temperature, not so large difference was observed on S-N curves in air and in high pressure hydrogen. However, a little influence was observed in fatigue crack growth tests using half inch CT specimens at room temperature (R = 0.05). Microstructure observation reveals that any martensitic transformation did not occur. The degradation of fatigue crack growth rate in high pressure gaseous hydrogen is probably caused by the work hardened δ-ferrite which is generally contained in thick materials. However the effect of hydrogen is only limited and 40% cold worked type 316L stainless steel is considered to be used in high pressure hydrogen gas just like solution treated one.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Bao ◽  
Kaiyu Zhang ◽  
Zhengrong Zhou ◽  
Wenli Zhang ◽  
Xiao Cai ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effect of δ-ferrite on the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement of type 304 stainless steel in hydrogen gas environment. Design/methodology/approach The mechanical properties of as-received and solution-treated specimens were investigated by the test of tensile and fatigue crack growth (FCG) in 5 MPa argon and hydrogen. Findings The presence of δ-ferrite reduced the relative elongation and the relative reduction area (H2/Ar) of 304 stainless steel, indicating that δ-ferrite increased the susceptibility of hydrogen embrittlement in 304 stainless steel. Moreover, δ-ferrite promoted the fatigue crack initiation and propagation at the interface between δ-ferrite and austenite. The FCG tests were used to investigate the effect of δ-ferrite on the FCG rate in hydrogen gas environment, and it was found that δ-ferrite accelerated the FCG rate, which was attributed to rapid diffusion and accumulation of hydrogen around the fatigue crack tip through δ-ferrite in high-pressure hydrogen gas environment. Originality/value The dependence of the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement on δ-ferrite was first investigated in type 304 steel in hydrogen environment with high pressures, which provided the basis for the design and development of a high strength, hydrogen embrittle-resistant austenitic stainless steel.


Author(s):  
Yoshinori Sawae ◽  
Kanao Fukuda ◽  
Eiichi Miyakoshi ◽  
Shunichiro Doi ◽  
Hideki Watanabe ◽  
...  

Bearings and seals used in fuel cell vehicles and related hydrogen infrastructures are operating in pressurized gaseous hydrogen. However, there is a paucity of available data about the friction and wear behavior of materials in high pressure hydrogen gas. In this study, authors developed a pin-on-disk type apparatus enclosed in a high pressure vessel and characterized tribological behavior of polymeric sealing materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based composites, in gaseous hydrogen pressurized up to 40 MPa. As a result, the friction coefficient between graphite filled PTFE and austenitic stainless steel in 40 MPa hydrogen gas became lower compared with the friction in helium gas at the same pressure. The chemical composition of worn surfaces was analyzed by using X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) after the wear test. Results of the chemical analysis indicated that there were several differences in chemical compositions of polymer transfer film formed on the stainless disk surface between high pressure hydrogen environment and high pressure helium environment. In addition, the reduction of surface oxide layer of stainless steel was more significant in high pressure hydrogen gas. These particular effects of the pressurized hydrogen gas on the chemical condition of sliding surfaces might be responsible for the tribological characteristics in the high pressure hydrogen environment.


Author(s):  
Qi He ◽  
Zhengli Hua ◽  
Jinyang Zheng

Austenitic stainless steel of the 300 series and their welds are widely employed in the production, storage and distribution infrastructures of gaseous and liquid hydrogen. However, hydrogen compatibility of their welds has not been completely understood, especially in high-pressure hydrogen environment. In this study, the influence of 98MPa high pressure gaseous hydrogen on the tensile properties and fracture behaviors of three kinds of S31603 weld joints were investigated, including SMAW, SAW and TIG welds. The tensile data indicated that hydrogen caused the ductility loss of the SAW and TIG weld joints, particularly for the TIG welds. For the SMAW weld joints, hydrogen had little impact on its ductility. Fractographic analysis revealed that hydrogen scarcely induced a change in the fracture mode of the SMAW welds. Different from this, the SAW and TIG welds were found to exhibit an obvious susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement in this study, particularly for the TIG welds, based on the change of fracture features from dimples to facets, striations and secondary cracks. Additionally, both fracture surfaces of the SMAW and SAW welds contained some inclusions where the secondary cracks were promoted.


Author(s):  
Y. Sawae ◽  
K. Nakashima ◽  
S. Doi ◽  
T. Murakami ◽  
J. Sugimura

Machine components in the fuel cell vehicle and related hydrogen infrastructures are operating within high pressure hydrogen gas. Especially, polymer seals used in gas compressors and regulator valves should be articulating against their metal counter face in pressurized hydrogen gas. However, the effect of high pressure hydrogen gas on tribological behavior of sliding surfaces has not been identified yet. In this study, effects of the pressurized hydrogen gas environment on wear behavior of polymeric sealing materials were examined by exposing polymer specimens and their sliding counterface to the high pressure hydrogen gas prior to the wear test. Unfilled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and 15% graphite filled PTFE were tested as representative polymer sealing materials and 316L austenitic stainless steel was used as a sliding counterface. Results of X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) analysis of the exposed stainless surface indicated that metal oxides in the surface passive layer of 316L stainless steel could be reduced to some extent by high pressure hydrogen. Increased metal contents of the stainless surface enhanced the development of polymer transfer film and consequently lower the specific wear rate of PTFE and PTFE composites.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Yahashi ◽  
Akira Yamashita ◽  
Nozomu Shigemitsu ◽  
Sogo Goto ◽  
Koji Kida ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 555-558
Author(s):  
Kana JOTOKU ◽  
Jun NAKAMURA ◽  
Takahiro OSUKI ◽  
Hiroyuki HIRATA

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